Inpatient Rehabilitation: Fall Precautions

For most people the idea of falling rarely, if ever, crosses their mind. If it does, for a fleeting moment, they probably decide that if they did fall they would get up, brush off their pride and go on about their business. What if you couldn’t do that? What if when you fell you couldn’t get up, either because you were too weak, or it hurt too much to move? What if every trip to the bathroom was a journey in fear because of the possibility of falling? For many of the 35 million Americans over the age of 65 the “what” if scenario is a frightening reality. One of three Americans over the age of 65 will fall this year. One third of those falls will result in a trip to the emergency room or the Doctor’s office. About 350,000 of those people who fall will break a hip, and their life will be changed forever, or end.

The first step in averting the accident is to recognize that you or someone you love is at risk. If you are over 65 and/or have significant health or mobility problems you are at risk of falling. CDC has put together a “program” of things to do to reduce that risk. It consists of:

Quick Links: Inpatient Rehab Team Patient & Family Information Visitor Information Fall Precautions Admissions Process (physician referral)

1. Have your vision checked regularly.
   As we age our vision changes. Those changes are more than just losing the ability to read the fine print. People also have trouble adjusting to changes in light. In that time they are more apt to trip and fall. As people age they also have more trouble with depth perception, so changes in levels of the surface they are walking on can present problems. This can be especially difficult if they wear bifocals or trifocals. Those people need to learn to lower their head and scan the surface they’re walking on.
2. Review your medications with your doctor.
   There are many side effects of medications, which can increase your risk of falling. If you take medication to control your blood pressure or heart rate you may get dizzy or light headed. If that happens, you need to give yourself extra time to acclimate to changes in position such as getting out of a chair or bed. Any time your doctor gives you a new medication be sure you tell him other medications you’re taking to avoid dangerous drug interactions.
3. Take a close look around and see what you can do to make your home safer.
   Inside your house and out, there are probably things you can do to make your home safer. Fix loose steps or railings. Remove throw rugs from slippery floors, or at least put double-sided tape on the rug to secure it to the floor. If you have extension cords stretched across the room consider moving appliances or having an electrician install new outlets. Take a look at the lighting in your home. Consider adding fixtures, lamps, or changing the size of bulbs to keep lighting even and consistent. Many falls occur in the bathroom. Put a non-slip surface in your tub or shower. Consider having grab bars installed by your toilet and/or tub/shower.
4. Start an appropriate exercise program, and stay with it.
   Exercise has so many benefits it would be difficult to list them all. If you’re exercising regularly you reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke as well as helping you to prevent falls. The exercise helps keep you alert so you notice the risks. It increases your strength and balance so you can recover from situations that would otherwise result in a fall. If you have health problems be sure to ask your physician before starting an exercise program.