Fall Facts
Most falls are
What is preventable.
Falling is a normal part of aging
What is False.
Falling is not normal with many contributing factors other than age.
Doing this 3 times a week can help prevent falls
What is exercise.
30 mins of moderate intensity exercise up to 150mins a week recommended by CDC
True or false, age is the most important risk factor of falls
What is false
As we age we may become more sedentary causing muscle weakness, impaired balance, decreased gait speed and chronic conditions which can contribute to your risk of falls but staying active can help prevent this.
Fear of falling, loss of independence, Social isolation, depression and confusion can all result do to
What are history of falls
Environmental hazards in the home that can contribute to falls are (list 3)
What are cluttered pathways, insecure footwear, throw rugs, pets, cords, misuse of assistive device, unstable furniture, broken or unstable railings, poor lighting and spills or slippery floors
1 in 4 US adults over 65 fall each year
What is true.
Every 11 seconds a senior has a fall in the US, that's over 14 million Americans every year.
If you are unsteady when you walk or use the furniture in your home, this may indicate you need to use
What is an assistive device such as a cane or walker.
Frequent urge to void or taking diuretics does what to your fall risk
What is increases.
Rushing to the restroom especially at night can make you miss obstacles, become lightheaded or dizzy, or forget your assistive device. Ask your PCP, OT or PT for solutions that may best fit you.
Falls cause 95% of this type of injury
What is a hip fracture.
Hip, wrist, arm, spine and pelvis are among the most common fractures from a fall. Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.
An unintentional event that results the person coming to rest on the ground or lower surface
What is the definition of a fall.
Grip strength can indicate your risk for falls
What is true.
Although lower body strength is important to reduce falls, upper body strength including grip strength can assist you with transfers, using railings and safe use of assistive devices.
This item can be added to the house to prevent falls especially during the night
What is a night light.
Poor lighting especially at night can cause you to miss obstacles or mis-judge distances that may cause you to fall. Ensure pathways are well lit especially to the bathroom.
This causes people to become less active following a fall which can cause muscle weakness and increase their risk of another fall
What is fear.
Those who have had a fall can become fearful and more sedentary which in turn causes them to become even more vulnerable to another fall.
Once you have had a fall your
What is more likely to fall again.
People 65+ that have fallen in the past are twice as likely to fall again.
This place accounts for where 60% of all falls happen
What is in the home.
Most commonly in the bathroom.
In 2021, Emergency departments recorded nearly 3 million visits from older adult falls
What is true
Resulting in nearly 1 million hospitalizations
This common item in the house can be removed or secured down to prevent falls
What is throw or area rugs.
Rugs can cause trips or make it difficult to navigate with AD catching the edges or even folding them up creating a hazard.
These types of medications can increase your risk of falls (List 3)
What are anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, pain, diuretics, sleep aides and high blood pressure medications
These are the first 2 things you should do after you have fallen
What is
1. Assess if you have been injured, don't rush to get up
2. Call for help if available
Note: you should always report your falls so measures can be taken to prevent future falls
Hearing aides and glasses can cause your likelihood of falling to
What is decrease.
Hearing loss can triple your likelihood of a fall from others 65+ with normal hearing. Glasses should be kept clean and worn as prescribed to navigate obstacles.
In 2020, the total healthcare costs in the US related to non-fatal falls was $ 80 billion
What is True.
Annual healthcare costs related to falls is expected to reach $101 billion by 2030.
Reviewing this with your PCP can help prevent falls
What is your medication list.
Taking 3 or more medications can increase your risk of falls as side effects such as fatigue or dizziness are more common. These should be reviewed with your doctor annually.
These are the 5 most common factors leading to falls
What is Balance/gait, Vision, medication, environment, chronic conditions (neuropathy, DMII, COPD, CHF, chronic dizziness, depression)
Describe the steps to recover from the floor