Understanding Fall Risk for Your Elderly Parent
Elder Care in Fairfax VA
If you are a family caregiver for an aging adult and have had any interaction with other aging adults you know just how personal the journey through aging really is. Every person experiences these
later years in life in their own way and go through their own symptoms, emotions, and risks and challenges. Regardless of what your parent is going through, however, there are some risks that are virtually universal, and one of them is fall risk.
Each year approximately 30 percent of the population of adults over the age of 64 will experience a fall. This accounts for millions of people, and makes falls the leading cause of injury, both fatal and non-fatal, among older adults. This is a frightening prospect for a family caregiver, but with the proper understanding of this risk and making effective modifications to their home, their care, and their activities, you can protect your elderly parent from the devastating injuries that can happen due to a fall.
Some things that you should know about senior fall risk include:
- Approximately every 11 seconds a senior adult must seek treatment in the emergency room for injuries sustained during a fall
- Every 19 minutes a senior adult dies as a result of a fall
- Injuries related to falls are the most frequent cause of hospital admission related to non-fatal trauma among older adults
- More than 800,000 older adults are hospitalized due to falls each year
- More than 27,000 older adults die as a result of falls each year
- One of the most common injuries associated with falls that is suffered by older adults is a broken hip. Those who suffer this type of injury are more than five times as likely to die within the next calendar year than they were prior to the injury and are likely to suffer long-term mobility limitations
It is not just the injuries themselves that impact an older adult after a fall. Seniors who suffer from a serious fall also tend to experience a greater sense of apprehension and fear associated with future mobility and activity. They worry that they are going to fall again and suffer worse injuries. While it is true that people who fall are more likely to fall again, this risk increases even further with lack of mobility. This makes it vital that you not only do what you can to reduce the chances that your elderly loved one will suffer a fall, but also that you prepare yourself for proper care for your senior should they experience this type of accident.
If you are concerned that your parent is at an increased risk of falling due to their personal challenges and limitations, elder care may be the ideal way for you to encourage them to stay active, healthy, and independent while also protecting them. This elderly home care services provider can create a customized approach to their care and assistance tailored to their individual needs and the specific challenges that they face. Through this direct assistance and modifications your parent can take on more of their own activities of daily living, enjoy a more active lifestyle, and still feel confident that they are at a lower risk of suffering a serious fall.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Fairfax, VA, call the caring staff at Medical Professionals On Call today. 703-273-8818
Source: https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-facts/falls-prevention-facts/
Medical Professionals On Call has such a caring, professional staff who are available to step in with whatever level of care necessary for loved ones and to relieve you of that stress.
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