Do Men or Women Fall More?
Did you know that among the elderly population, falls occur more often among women who have one or more medical condition and live alone? They are also typically taking more than one medication, which may increase the likelihood of dizziness and fainting among the group. Risk factors for falls can be categorized in 2 ways: those that occur inside the body, and those that occur in the environment. Issues that occur within the body can include:
- arthritis
- muscle weakness
- hearing and vision impairments
- high/low blood pressure
- balance and postural deficits
- dizziness
Issues that are due to environmental factors can include:
- home safety hazards
- poor lighting
- loose fitting clothing
- cluttered walking paths
- placing items on stairs
In their April 2004 report, The Center for Health and Long Term Care Research, stated that research indicates that a “multidisciplinary” approach to fall prevention and risk management demonstrated the best results. This means addressing issues that occur within the body as well as environmental factors. This multidisciplinary approach includes a risk assessment either completed by a professional or the individual, a thorough medical evaluation by the individual’s physician and follow up interventions. In the upcoming weeks, Aging Suite will be highlighting various fall assessment programs used by facilities/organizations.
Source: The American Geriatric Society (AGS) Fall Prevention Panel
