Earlier this month, President Biden tripped over a sandbag and fell on stage at the US Air Force Academy graduation. Thankfully, the president was not severely injured from his fall. However, that is not always the case. As we age, our bones become more brittle, and it takes less force to break a bone or become injured. Additionally, older adults are more likely to fall than younger age groups.
Greg Friese explains that many geriatric falls result in 911 calls and require lift assistance. Furthermore, many of these falls result in head, orthopedic, and soft tissue injuries. These injuries often require immobilization, pain management, and inpatient treatment. Unfortunately, many of these falls and injuries also cause a loss of independence for the elderly that have these experiences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 36,000 adults over 65 died due to falls in 2020. Additionally, 3 million falls resulted in emergency room visits. Older adult falls cost $50 billion in medical costs annually. What can cause older adults to fall? There are many examples, but here are a few:
The CDC states, “Falls are a threat to the health of older adults and can reduce their ability to remain independent. However, falls don’t have to be inevitable as you age. You can reduce your chance of falling or help a loved one prevent falls.” The good news is that many of these falls can be prevented. But how?
How can Twin Lights help? Having a 24/7 live-in aide living with your elderly loved ones can greatly reduce the risk of falls. Aides are trained to keep your loved ones as safe as possible. If you have any questions about home care for your loved ones, you can contact us. You can also check out the rest of our blog posts on our website. Written by Madison Chalmers
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February 2020
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