Falling is one of the most common injuries for elderly Americans, a group categorized as anyone over the age of 65. Taking it one step further, falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in the United States, according to the CDC. This will only increase as the elderly population grows.
Once someone hears this, their mind launches into a series of questions. Why are falls so common for elderly Americans? Can elderly falls be prevented? What causes falls to be so damaging to elderly people? Are there government regulations regarding senior living furniture? Buckle your seatbelt because we’re here to explore all those topics today.
Explaining The Why Behind Elderly Falls
Looking at the numbers behind elderly falls can be a very jarring experience. It’s important to give people context to better understand why elderly people are more prone to falling compared to other age segments.
The short answer would be to just say “it’s because they’re old”. While that’s true, it doesn’t give you the proper context needed to grasp elderly falls. There are a wide variety of reasons as to why elders fall so frequently.
Causes of elderly falls include the following:
Weakened Muscles
As people age, their bodies start to decline. That drop off includes the body’s muscles which are responsible for keeping you upright. If those muscles start to decline, then it’s only natural that falls will increase.
Different Medications
Since every medication comes with side effects, it’s expected that people on medication will be at a higher risk to fall. With the diverse range of conditions that call for medication, you’d be hard pressed to find an elderly American who isn’t on any medication. Putting these two together will lead to elderly people having an increased risk of falling.
Issues With Blood Pressure
As people age, their blood pressure will begin to sway. Whether it goes too low or too high, they’ll still face blood pressure problems. These issues will cause complications in standing and walking which can lead to an increase in falling.
Unsafe Walkways
One of the most common reasons that elderly falls is cluttered walkways in their homes or senior living facilities. As elders start to use walkers and canes, it becomes even more important that they are granted wide, clear walkways to move about. Restricting their space can cause them to lose their balance and fall hard.
Vision Loss
With a declining vision, it can be hard to see small things that cause trips and falls. Small, and often avoidable items, such as cats, clothes, a caught rug, etc. can be hard to see as your vision declines. As it gets harder to see, it becomes harder to avoid these items that you used to be able to spot a mile away.
Why Are Elderly Falls So Damaging?
I know what you’re thinking. Hundreds of millions of people fall every day, so what’s the big deal? For adults, there isn’t a big deal. However, for the elderly, there are a multitude of reasons behind why falls are a big deal. These issues can be both mental and physical.
Physical Damage Of Elderly Falls
Let’s start with the physical concerns surrounding elderly falls. When you fall, your body must absorb that energy. With elderly people, though, their bodies are not as sturdy as they used to which means they aren’t equipped to handle the falls.
What does this result in? Usually, it means that their bones aren’t as strong either and the likelihood of bone fractures in their hip, arms, legs, etc. is significantly increased. This same logic can be applied to things such as head trauma as well.
Additionally, these physical injuries can come with a long road back to recovery. As adults age, it takes longer to fully heal from physical trauma which prolongs the healing process for elders. What’s paired with long recovery times is the possibility of underlying conditions that can further complicate your body’s health.
Mental Damage Of Elderly Falls
These issues along make elderly falls a strong concern. However, you also must account for the mental roadblocks that come with falls. What might be a momentarily embarrassing moment for an adult can become a devasting call to stay home for elders.
While no seniors should stay home or stop socializing because of a fall, many elders who fall will do exactly that. Whether it’s a desire to save face after a fall or an attempt to deny their physical decline, fall victims often shut themselves out and begin to recluse.
However, it’s even worse if it’s at a senior living facility. Elders in senior living who fall get painted as a fall risk and start to be treated different than the other patients. Those changes can range from extra help to being left out of certain activities which can create a sense of loneliness in elders.
How Can I Prevent Elderly Falls At Home?
Any adult that cares for their aging parents knows that struggles that can ensue with that battle. No matter how much of a fight it is, you owe it to your parents to at least give your best effort in ensuring they’re cared for.
Some of the things you can do to make your home elder-safe include the following:
- Install adequate lighting fixtures around your entire home
- Keep your pathways clear inside your home
- Install sit to stand chairs in your bathroom and shower to make the process less painful
- Supply your parents with safe, comfortable shoes that increase traction to the ground and lower the risk of falls
- Make everyday items easier to reach for your parents
- Keep cords, rugs, and slippery surfaces organized and to a minimum
Senior Living Facility’s Role In Keeping Elders Safe
While some adults choose to keep their parents at home, many people turn to senior living facilities for their aging loved ones. In the United States alone, more than 800,000 people are in senior living facilities.
As a senior living facility, you are being entrusted with the health and wellbeing of people’s loved ones. One of the biggest things you have to do is keep up your end of this promise and give the best level of care to your patients.
How To Assess Fall Risks For Seniors
As part of your promise to give proper care, you take the responsibility of determining which of your patients is a fall risk. While it’s obvious that those who have previously fallen are at risk, you want to be able to try to predict who will fall. This allows you to take the steps needed to prevent them from falling.
These assessments come in the form of patient tests that can focus on one specific fall-related issue. The patient tests include the following:
- 30-Second Chair Stand
- Timed Up and Go
- 4-Stage Balance
- Blood Pressure
- Allen Cognitive Screen
Best Senior Living Practices To Ensure Patient Safety
Along with assessing fall risks, your facility has to ensure patient safety. There are a wide variety of things you can do to give your patients the best living experience. Creating exercise programs, reinforcing the importance of social activities even after a fall, and keeping a close eye on your patients’ health are good things to do. However, the best way to do this is by investing in senior living furniture.
Importance of Senior Living Furniture For Reducing Falls
The furniture found in your facility is what drives the success of your patients. Aside from a desire to have stylish furniture, your patients will be interacting with and using this furniture every day which is what drives the importance of comfort and safety.
Along with helping your patients, safe furniture is also important to your reputation. Word spreads quickly, so if you aren’t taking care of your guests, people will know, and your business will hurt.
Choose F3 Function First Furniture For Your Senior Living Furniture Needs
Ready to make the steps toward a safe future for your elders? Look no further than the team at Function First Furniture. With over 35 years of furniture experience, our S3 Uplifter Chair options from our Secure-Sit-To-Stand Series of Seating will ensure that your loved ones remain safe and stable for the long haul.
Additionally, we understand the responsibility we have as a manufacturer. This is why all of our furniture is sustainably made with bamboo rather than wood, giving it a longer shelf life and less of a carbon footprint.
Call (888) 335-6881 to explore senior living furniture options with Function First Furniture today.
