Falls happen to all of us; they are not reserved for any age group and can happen anytime.
Unfortunately, though, falls in seniors are more likely to cause serious injuries and significant health concerns, particularly for those over 65 years old.
Falls may also significantly impact the person’s physical and mental well-being.
Impact on Physical Well-Being
Seniors are more likely to suffer serious injuries from falls due to factors such as weaker bones and reduced mobility. Common injuries from falls may include fractures, head injuries, and soft tissue injuries.
If the person resides in a facility, the staff is required to call the family or designated representative when their loved one falls while in the facility.
A fall is a change in condition and not a normal part of the day. Regardless of how a person ends up on the floor, and no matter how the resident or staff describe it, it is considered a fall.
With every fall, an unintentional event, an incident report is completed. The incident is reported to the state department of health if the person is sent to the hospital for evaluation and treatment. In most cases, the family or injured person does not receive a copy of the incident report, which is viewed as part of the internal quality assurance program, to help develop a safe environment, so further falls do not occur.
When You Get “The Call”…
Now, when you do receive “the call” from the facility informing you that your loved one fell, it is essential you document the following:
- Note the date, time, the full name of who called you from the facility.
- Document what that person said.
- Keep track of these falls and address them as soon as possible to prevent future falls.
- Have a contact person you can contact in person, by email, or by telephone call (document these calls) to find out the cause of the falls.
- Find out what intervention is being done to prevent another fall.
- If it is a medication problem, find out if the healthcare provider is involved in updating the treatment plan.
- Discuss the falls as necessary at the Care Plan conferences you attend in person, by telephone, or via facetime.
- Remember to keep an ongoing notebook of incidents you are made aware of and any prevention program for the safety of your loved one.
Facilities must provide an environment free from accident hazards over which the facility has control and provide supervision and assistive devices to each resident to prevent avoidable accidents. 42 CFR 483.25 (d) accidents Often there is a reason behind a fall. It may be a wrong pair of shoes, an infection such as a urinary tract infection, medication problems causing an imbalance, dehydration, and other medical situations. It’s important to note that falls are not a “normal part of aging” and need to be investigated
Impact on Mental Well-Being
Not only are there physical consequences to falling, but falls may also leave mental/psychological scars.
The person may develop a mental fear of falling if they have already had one fall. This fear even increases with a fracture. This may happen at home or in any facility.
Falls may lead to anxiety, depression, and a loss of confidence in one’s ability to move safely. This may lead to reduced physical activity, thereby reducing the person’s mobility and overall health.
According to the CDC, one in four older adults experiences falls yearly, yet less than half of them will ever tell their doctor or anyone else.
During a doctor’s visit, part of the standard screening process is asking, “Have you had any falls?” Often people are embarrassed and don’t want to be lectured by friends, family members, facility staff, or anyone. They may even think this was a rare occurrence and will not happen again. Healthcare professionals complete fall assessments for risk factors and history in private homes and facilities. It is a common and necessary assessment to set up an appropriate plan of care to prevent future falls in any setting.
Impact on Quality of Life
Falls are serious and often alter the quality of life for the person.
One out of every five falls can have broken bones or, worse, can have a head injury. These falls decrease the ability of the adult to care for themselves, such as their activities of daily living (ADLs).
After a fall, people may have to depend on others to assist them with these ADLs, including but not limited to feeding, bathing, toileting needs, personal hygiene, and dressing.
This assistance with ADLs is embarrassing, and it may feel like one is losing independence in one’s life and becoming dependent on others when they have been so independent in their life before the fall. Often, the fall victim goes to the emergency room, is assessed, diagnosed with a fracture, and may be admitted. This hospital admission increases their risk of being sent to a nursing home or rehabilitation center for physical therapy.
Financial Impact
While not always the case, falls frequently result in expensive medical treatments, hospital stays, and rehabilitation services. This can place a significant financial burden on seniors and their families and the healthcare system overall.
According to the CDC, approximately 300,000 older adults are hospitalized annually for hip fractures. In 2015, the medical costs for falls with injuries totaled more than $50 billion in Medicare, Medicaid, and supplemental insurance costs.
These figures don’t measure the loss in quality of life and the pain and suffering experienced by fall victims.
In conclusion …
Falls in seniors pose serious health concerns to their physical and mental well-being and often come with economic consequences.
By implementing preventive measures and providing prompt medical attention and rehabilitation services as necessary, the overall impact of these falls may be reduced.