older people’s health issues
Falls in Older Adults
Introduction
A fall is defined as unintentionally or accidentally dropping down to the ground or another lower level. Most falls occur when older adults with one or more physical conditions that impair mobility or balance encounter an environmental hazard. Many people have no symptoms before a fall, but some feel dizzy or have other symptoms. After a fall, people may have broken bones or bruises. Doctors often do tests to evaluate whether an underlying condition contributed to the fall. Falls around the home may often be prevented by taking precautions. After injuries are treated, people work with physical therapists to help reduce the risk of subsequent falls. Falls are common among older adults. In the United States, about one in four people age 65 or over report falling each year. resulting in a total of about 36 million falls each year, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). A person who has had a fall is more likely to fall again. Not all falls result in an injury. However, more than one third of people who fall report an injury that required medical treatment or that restricted their activity for at least a day. That translates into an estimated 8 million fall injuries each year. About 20% of falls cause a serious injury such as fractures (including a Hip Fractures ) or a head injury. Older adults are more likely to break bones in falls because many older adults have porous, fragile bones (a condition called Many older adults fear falling. Fear of falling can lead to problems. People may worry about doing their usual activities and thus lose their self-confidence and even their independence. Older adults can do many things to help overcome their fears and to reduce their risk of falling. Knowing what causes falls can help. Many older adults are reluctant to report a fall because they mistakenly think falling is a normal part of growing older. Or they fear that their activities will be restricted or they will be institutionalized. However, people should report falls to their health care practitioner, even if the practitioner does not ask because their health care practitioner can suggest ways to help them prevent future falls. Although many older adults fall, falls are not a normal part of growing older. 