Falls in older adults
When people get older, their bodies may not work as well as they used to, and they may be more likely to fall down. Falls happen when someone loses their balance and can't stay upright. This can be really dangerous, especially for older adults because their bones and bodies might break more easily.
There are many reasons why older adults might fall. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Weak muscles: As people get older, their muscles might not be as strong as they used to be. This can make it harder to keep their balance and stay upright.
- Vision problems: Older adults might have trouble seeing clearly, especially if they have cataracts or other eye problems. If they can't see where they're going, they might trip or stumble and fall.
- Medications: Many older adults take medicines that can make them feel dizzy or lightheaded. This can make it hard for them to keep their balance and prevent falls.
- Home hazards: Sometimes, the things in an older adult's home can cause falls. For example, if there's a rug that's not flat on the ground, someone might trip over it and fall down.
To prevent falls, there are some things older adults can do:
- Exercise: Doing exercises that help strengthen muscles can make it easier to keep balance and prevent falls.
- Check vision: Getting regular eye exams can help older adults make sure they're seeing clearly and have the right glasses or contacts.
- Talk to a doctor: If an older adult is taking medicines that make them feel dizzy, they can talk to their doctor to see if there's a way to adjust their dosage or take a different kind of medicine.
- Remove home hazards: Older adults can check their homes to make sure there aren't any rugs or other obstacles that could cause someone to trip and fall.
There are many reasons why older adults might fall. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Weak muscles: As people get older, their muscles might not be as strong as they used to be. This can make it harder to keep their balance and stay upright.
- Vision problems: Older adults might have trouble seeing clearly, especially if they have cataracts or other eye problems. If they can't see where they're going, they might trip or stumble and fall.
- Medications: Many older adults take medicines that can make them feel dizzy or lightheaded. This can make it hard for them to keep their balance and prevent falls.
- Home hazards: Sometimes, the things in an older adult's home can cause falls. For example, if there's a rug that's not flat on the ground, someone might trip over it and fall down.
To prevent falls, there are some things older adults can do:
- Exercise: Doing exercises that help strengthen muscles can make it easier to keep balance and prevent falls.
- Check vision: Getting regular eye exams can help older adults make sure they're seeing clearly and have the right glasses or contacts.
- Talk to a doctor: If an older adult is taking medicines that make them feel dizzy, they can talk to their doctor to see if there's a way to adjust their dosage or take a different kind of medicine.
- Remove home hazards: Older adults can check their homes to make sure there aren't any rugs or other obstacles that could cause someone to trip and fall.