| Part 1 - Internal Factors | | | | chair. |
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| Falls and their consequences are the leading | | | | Vision changes. As people get older it |
| cause of death in people 65 years and older. | | | | becomes harder for the eyes to adjust to |
| For people 85 and older, it's estimated that | | | | varying levels of lightness and darkness. We |
| one in five falls results in death. | | | | become more sensitive to glare. Decreased |
| | | | depth perception also makes it hard to |
| Until recently, most falls have been blamed | | | | distinguish high-contrast patterns from |
| on a single cause - precipitated by either a | | | | actual elevation changes. |
| medical event or an "accident" related to the | | | | |
| environment. Today, researchers know that | | | | Balance problems. Aging naturally diminishes |
| falls are rarely the result of an isolated | | | | the body's natural automatic reflexes that |
| event. Rather falls are complex events caused | | | | enable people to properly interpret and |
| by the interaction of both internal and | | | | re-orient their center of gravity as they |
| external factors. | | | | move or walk. Changes in gait (such as |
| | | | walking with a narrower or wider stance than |
| Most falls represent the end result of a | | | | usual) increase the risk of catching a foot |
| series of independent and often small risks. | | | | on an obstruction. |
| Individually, such risks pose no harm. Young | | | | |
| and able-bodied people can manage avoid many | | | | Cardiovascular difficulties. Numbness in the |
| daily mishaps so naturally, they never even | | | | limbs affects the ability to sense the ground |
| realize it. Eventually though, age, | | | | or command their limbs to adjust to it. |
| disability or compromised health not only | | | | Cardiovascular problems can also cause sudden |
| created its own risks, it can make it | | | | loss of blood to the brain, resulting in |
| impossible to deal with even the simplest | | | | fainting. |
| environmental risks. | | | | |
| | | | Medications. Many drugs (including alcohol) |
| Often, a fall "happens" (meaning, factors set | | | | affect judgment and coordination. |
| it in motion) long before the victim | | | | Tranquilizers can slow reflexes. Others |
| encounters the event. As relatives and | | | | increase the risk of fainting |
| caregivers, it becomes our responsibility to | | | | |
| recognize and correct those factors-both | | | | Chronic or acute diseases. Falls may often be |
| physiological and environmental- and break | | | | the initial symptom of a disease. |
| the chain of risk, before a fall occurs. | | | | Degenerative disorders only compound the risk |
| Prevention is no accident. | | | | of falls. |
| | | | |
| Internal risk factors | | | | Depression, stress or lack of sleep. Such |
| | | | issues can make people preoccupied and less |
| A number of physiological and medical factors | | | | alert to the dangers around them. |
| play a role in causing falls. Understanding | | | | |
| these can help you reduce the risks from | | | | You can help prevent falls in one of the most |
| these and other factors. Here are a few major | | | | dangerous rooms in the home, by equipping |
| ones. | | | | your bathroom with readily available devices |
| | | | including secure hand rails, a raised toilet |
| Changes in muscles and bones. Changes in | | | | seat, a bathing chair, easy-to-reach shower |
| muscles and joints not only make movement | | | | controls, and non-slip shower/tub liners. |
| more difficult, they also make it harder to | | | | |
| correct for a sudden loss of balance. Loss of | | | | Stayed tuned for Part 2, understanding the |
| strength in the legs or upper arms limits the | | | | external risk factors to help reduce our |
| ability to transfer in and out of bed or a | | | | senior's risk for falls. |