The Impact of Falls & How Physical Therapy Can Help
Sept. 22-26 is Fall Prevention Awareness Week — are you at risk of falling? Each year, millions of older adults suffer debilitating and sometimes life-threatening injuries after a fall; for those who survive, life may never be quite the same afterward. From financial to emotional and mental impacts, a fall can be devastating to an older person’s quality of life, so learning about the risk factors associated with falls — and how local support can help prevent them — is of utmost importance. Learn more about falls and what you can do to keep yourself or older people in your life safe.
Facts About Falls
According to the Centers for Disease Control, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for adults ages 65 and older. Falls caused 38,000 deaths and 3 million emergency department visits in 2021, according to the National Council on Aging. Furthermore, more than 14 million older adults — or 25% of older adults — report a fall each year. Of those, more than half require hospital care with an estimated annual coverage cost per inpatient visit of $18,658, or $1,112 per ED visit; 67% of visits are paid by Medicare, 4% by Medicaid, and 29% are paid privately or out of pocket. Cost of treatment for falls is expected to exceed $101 billion by 2030, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health.
After a fall, a senior’s quality of life may be severely impacted as they may no longer be able to enjoy the activities they did prior to their injury, such as everyday tasks or visiting friends and family. This in turn can lead to physical decline, depression, social isolation, and feelings of helplessness, according to the NCOA.
What Causes Falls?
Some of the most common risk factors for falls include:
- History of falls — People who have already suffered a fall in the past are more likely to fall again; in fact, studies have shown a previous incident doubles the chances of another in the future.
- Vision loss — A study by VisionServe Alliance, the Aging and Vision Loss National Coalition, and the Ohio State University College of Optometry shows people with vision impairment are almost twice as likely to suffer a fall.
- Hearing loss — Like vision impairment, hearing loss can also increase the risk of falling. The NIH reports people with hearing impairment are almost three times as likely to suffer a fall, though wearing a hearing aid can reduce the risk by almost 50%.
- Lower body weakness — Trouble walking and balancing can negatively impact a person’s ability to stay upright.
- Certain medications — Some medicines can cause side effects like dizziness and fatigue.
- Chronic conditions — Diseases like diabetes and arthritis, which according to the NIH may cause lower-body neuropathy and pain, can increase the chances of falling.
- Hazards at home — Cluttered and crowded floors may increase the risk of tripping or slipping, as can poor lighting and a lack of supports like grab bars.
How Physical Therapy Can Help
As experts in motion and strength-building exercises, physical therapists are uniquely qualified to recognize a person’s risk of falling and help them create a plan to keep them safe and healthy. Some specific ways physical therapists reduce the risk of falling, according to the American Physical Therapy Association, include:
- Fall risk assessments, during which therapists can evaluate a person’s health as well as their living situation at home and determine specific safety hazards
- Helping find ways to make homes safer, including cleaning up clutter, improving lighting in some parts of the house, and installing rails or bars for support
- Providing education on the medical risks associated with falls
- Creating a personalized exercise and balance training program
- Improving the ability to enjoy everyday physical activities
- Creating programs to reduce fall risks, which may include working with other healthcare professionals and community programs
Reduce your risk of a serious injury — the experts at Culbertson Memorial Hospital are here to help. Learn more about Culbertson physical therapy services or call (217) 322-5286 for more information.