Latest Blogs

Many seniors have a fear of falling, and there is good reason for this fear as falling is common among senior citizens. At least once a year, one third of seniors who live at home will fall.  Falls are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States and the seventh leading cause of death in people 65 and older.  When a person falls once, they are apt to fall again according to Merck & Co., one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world which tracks and reports on consumer health issues.

HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM?

• The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) reports that of the one in three adults aged 65 and older who fall each year, 20 percent to 30 percent suffer moderate to severe injuries that make it hard for them to get around or live independently, and increase their risk of early death.
• Seniors are hospitalized for fall-related injuries five times more often than they are for injuries from other causes.
  • In 2012, emergency departments treated 2.4 million nonfatal fall injuries among older adults; more than 722,000 of these patients had to be hospitalized according to the CDC.

The American Family Physician reports that falls can be markers of poor health and declining function. In older patients, a fall may be a non-specific presenting sign of many acute illnesses, such as pneumonia, urinary tract infection or myocardial infarction, or it may be the sign of acute exacerbation of a chronic disease. A single fall is not always a sign of a major problem and an increased risk for subsequent falls. The fall may simply be an isolated event. However, recurring falls, defined as more than two falls in a six-month period, should be evaluated for treatable causes. An immediate evaluation is required for falls that produce injuries or are associated with a new acute illness, loss of consciousness, fever or abnormal blood pressure.

FALL PREVENTION

The Mayo Clinic in "Healthy Aging" recommends the following:

1. Make an appointment with your doctor: Begin your fall-prevention plan by making an appointment with your doctor. Be prepared to answer questions such as:

• What medications are you taking? Make a list of your prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements, or bring them with you to the appointment.
• Have you fallen before? Write down the details, including when, where and how you fell. Be prepared to discuss instances when you almost fell but were caught by someone or managed to grab hold of something just in time.
• Could your health conditions cause a fall? Certain eye and ear disorders may increase your risk of falls.

2. Keep moving: Physical activity can go a long way toward fall prevention. With your doctor's OK, consider activities such as walking, water workouts or tai chi. Such activities reduce the risk of falls by improving strength, balance, coordination and flexibility.

3. Wear sensible shoes: High heels, floppy slippers and shoes with slick soles can make you slip, stumble and fall. So can walking in your stocking feet. Instead wear properly fitting, sturdy shoes with nonskid soles.

4. Remove home hazards: Take a look around your home. Your living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, hallways and stairways may be filled with hazards.

To make your home safer:

• Remove boxes, newspapers, electrical cords and phone cords from walkways.
• Move coffee tables, magazine racks and plant stands from high-traffic areas.
• Secure loose rugs with double-faced tape, tacks or a slip-resistant backing.
• Repair loose, wooden floorboards and carpeting right away.
• Store clothing, dishes, food and other necessities within easy reach.
• Immediately clean spilled liquids, grease or food.
• Use nonslip mats in your bathtub or shower.

5. Light up your living space: Keep your home brightly lit to avoid tripping on objects that are hard to see.

Also:

• Place night lights in your bedroom, bathroom and hallways.
• Place a lamp within reach of your bed for middle-of-the-night needs.
  • Make clear paths to light switches that aren't near room entrances. Consider trading traditional switches for glow-in-the-dark or illuminated switches.
  • Turn on the lights before going up or down stairs.
  • Store flashlights in easy-to-find places in case of power outages.

6. Use assistive devices: Your doctor might recommend using a cane or walker to keep you steady. Other assistive devices can help, too.

For example:

• Hand rails for both sides of stairways.
• Nonslip treads for bare-wood steps.
• A raised toilet seat or one with armrests.
• Grab bars for the shower or tub.
  • A sturdy plastic seat for the shower or tub — plus a hand-held shower nozzle for bathing while sitting down.

HOW TO GET UP IF YOU FALL

Tech-enhanced Life, a Public Benefit Corporation in Delaware, whose purpose is "to improve the quality of life of the aging and their families" recommends:

• Remaining still on the floor or ground for a few moments. This will help you get over the shock of falling.

Deciding whether you are hurt before getting up.  Getting up too quickly or in the wrong way could make an injury worse.

• Resting again while your body and blood pressure adjust. Slowly get up on your hands and knees, and crawl to a sturdy chair.
• Putting your hands on the chair seat and sliding one foot forward so that it is flat on the floor while keeping the other leg bent so the knee is on the floor.  From a kneeling position, slowly rise and turn your body to sit in the chair.

If you're hurt or can't get up on your own, ask someone for help or call 911. If you're alone, try to get into a comfortable position and wait for help to arrive.

Below is a checklist from the Merck & Company's research group, to assist seniors, and those caring for them, to help prevent falls.

"Falling can be a life-changing, devastating event to a senior and a senior's family. Should the fall be the result of the negligence of another, legal advice should be sought from an experienced Slip and Fall Attorney," says Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Slip & Fall Attorney,  Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.