Do you fall? Do you think your parents are falling in their homes without disclosing the circumstances? Are you holding on to the walls or furniture to get around? Do you see a loved one struggling with walking? If so, you or your family may be at risk for falls and serious injury.
Studies show older adults (aged 65 or greater) suffered from falls as the leading cause of injury or death in that age group.
In 2020, 14 million (27.6%) older adults reported falling during the previous year. Women were more likely to fall than men, 28.9 versus 26.1%, but are less likely to die from it (68.3 versus 91.4%). In 2021, there were 38,742 deaths in older adults from accidental falls.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPS) guides clinicians in practicing the standard of care when treating patients. The group convenes periodically to review the research regarding basic medical practice for providers. Recently, they commissioned a study regarding accidental falls in the home and prevention measures for patients. After balancing the benefits and disadvantages of fall prevention screening, they released the following recommendations for doctors.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
In short, the task force recommends doctors ask their patients about their fall risk and address interventions. Which patients are at risk? The following factors increased the risk of accidental falls in patients 65 and older.
Increasing age
Cognitive decline – This can include memory loss or difficulty with remembering how to perform common functions
Sensory deficits
Any medical conditions
Medications that can increase the risk of falls, such as blood pressure-lowering medications or drugs that cause sedation and lethargy
Any hazards in the environment of their home or workplace
Alcohol or drug use
The physician can direct appropriate referrals for patients at risk for exercise treatment, including individual and group exercises. Individual treatment can be performed in the comfort of your home through home health care agencies, which are often Medicare-approved. Home health therapy offers individualized physical and occupational therapy for eligible individuals who are homebound due to new handicaps or ongoing decline. Therapy at outpatient rehabilitation centers is also available. Group exercises have the added benefit of social stimulation by other participants.
Your physician can perform an in-office comprehensive exam. They will monitor your gait, balance, and how long it takes you to get out of the chair — each of these, when in decline, can portent a future fall. Further exam components will include reviewing your medication list and changes in blood pressure from sitting to standing. Your cognition will also be examined. Finally, they may screen you for depression.
Falls happen. In my line of work, I admit patients to the hospital who sustain hip fractures from falls at least four to six times per week. These small interventions can make a difference in living independently longer. If you are 65 or older, call your doctor today for an appointment to review your fall risk.
Sources:
US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al. Interventions to Prevent Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2024;332(1):51-57. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.8481
Kakara R, Bergen G, Burns E, Stevens M. Nonfatal and Fatal Falls Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years – United States, 2020-2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72(35):938-943. Published 2023 Sep 1. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7235a1
Dr. Naznin Jamal is a Jefferson Regional Medical Center hospitalist.