Home Hazards
Common object in homes on floors that can result in tripping or catching feet on
Rugs & loose carpet
Participating in ______ makes your legs stronger and improves your balance (like Tai Chi).
Exercise/physical activity
If you decrease or limit your daily activity, you decrease your risk for falling.
False: When a person is less active, they become weaker and this increases their chances of falling.
A piece of equipment you can use to grab items from overhead or from the floor
Reacher/grabber
Use your ____ ____ in the skilled nursing facility to alert staff you need assistance to reduce the risk of falling.
Reduce ______ in order to ensure walkways and paths are clear and wide enough to safely navigate.
clutter (no objects that you can trip over)
Falls are responsible for __ percent of accidental deaths in persons 75 years of age and older.
70%
Falling once doubles your chance of falling again.
True
Life Alert
________ can increase the risk of falls due to neuropathy, pain, and other symptoms that can affect walking and balance.
Diabetes
Have good ______, especially between the bed and the bathroom or toilet at night and near any internal steps.
lighting- ensure home is well lit so you are able to see where you are walking
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your ________ to see if any might increase your risk of falling.
medications
Falls are inevitable as you get older.
False: falls can be prevented with therapy, home hazard analysis and modifications, medication review, education and so much more.
A piece of equipment that can installed in your home, typically by the toilet or in/near the shower to reduce the risk of falling
Grab bars
____ percent of hip fractures are diagnosed and occur due to a fall.
95%
You should make sure this area in your home is sturdy, secure and even without loose boards or flooring and often times may need railings.
Stairs
19 minutes.
Wear properly fitting, sturdy, flat shoes with nonskid soles, example tennis shoes, to reduce the risk of falling.
True: high heels, slippers, slick soled shoes and wearing only socks can increase the risk of falling by slipping or stumbling.
If you become unsteady walking alone or your balance worsens, you may need one of these to prevent you from falling
Assistive device: cane, walker, etc
What percentage of adults 65 years+ living in the community report experiencing a fall each year?
35-45%
Use an assistive device to balance instead of holding onto _________ to walk around the home.
furniture and/or walls
Each year, there are about ________ fall-related hospitalizations among older adults.
1 million
You are more likely to fall if standing up from a higher raised surface such as a toilet with a riser or a chair with a cushion.
False: raising surface height to stand can decrease risk of falling.
A piece of equipment that can be used in the shower to reduce slipping and to help with fatigue from standing
Shower chair/bench
What percentage of nursing home residents fall each year?
60%