Monthly Archives: November 2011

Why Falling IS Life Changing After 50

Posted on by
Reply

The Hard Facts and What They Mean

Why is falling life changing after 50?

Simply put: “We don’t bounce anymore”!

Over thirty three percent of older adults (over 65) will fall this year and every year.
Between the ages of 65 and 68 your Mom (or Dad) has an 80% probability of falling!

So if your Mom (or Dad) is 65 and one of 100 in a typical sample, then 33 of those people will fall this year. This leaves 67 who have not fallen.
Let’s assume your Mom is one of the 67 who did not fall.
But next year when your Mom is 66, one third (22) of her fall free group of 67 will fall.
That leaves 44 (lets include your Mom) from the original sample who after two years have not fallen.
In the third year when your Mom is 67 one third (or 15) of her remaining group of 45 will have a fall, leaving 30 out of the original 100 who have not fallen.
In the fourth year as she turns 68 another thirty three percent (10) of her group of 30 will have a fall, leaving only 20 from the original sample of 100 who have not had a life changing fall since turning 65.

In summary:
Between the ages of 65 and 68 your Mom (or Dad) has an 80% probability of falling!

Now I do not know how statistically pure that deduction is. But I am confident that regardless of how you do the math, the bottom line will always read: It is probable your Mom or Dad will have a life changing fall. The following statistics underscore why falls are life changing. If your spouse or parent falls it will change your life too!

•Among older adults falls are the leading cause of injury death.
•Falls are the most common cause of non-fatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.
•Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. In 2000 TBI accounted for 46% of fatal falls among older adults.
•Most fractures among older adults are caused by falls.
•Those who fall are two to three times more likely to fall again
•About half (53%) of the older adults who are discharged for fall-related hip fractures will experience another fall within six months.
•Falls account for 25% of all hospital admissions, and 40% of all nursing home admissions. 40% of those admitted do not return to independent living. 25% die within a year.
• Up to 40% of people who have a stroke have a serious fall within the next year.
•Many falls do not result in injuries, yet a large percentage of non-injured fallers (47%) cannot get up without assistance.

Will Your Parents Fall?

Posted on by
Reply

Will your parents fall? And what can be done to prevent it?

Yes. It is most likely that your parents will fall and hurt themselves.
Over 33% of adults over 65 fall every year.
Falls account for 25% of all hospital admissions, and 40% of all nursing home admissions.
40% of those admitted do not return to independent living. 25% die within a year. And as age increases so does the likelihood of falling.

What can be done to prevent it is very straightforward. The Center for Disease Control has a solid brochure “Check for Safety” A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults http://www.cdc.gov/injury) that I recommend. The principals are clear. Number One is Exercise. Whatever you can do to encourage your parents to be physically active – Do It! Physical activity and balance is directly linked. When your parents Fall they will have lost their balance.
Number Two is “Senior Proof” their house…and / or your house! Most parents are stubborn. They don’t want to admit to themselves or their children that they need Grab Bars. So show them how cool Grab Bars can be and install them first in your shower! So the first “step” of Senior Proofing is to make the bathroom(s) safer because they are the number one danger zone. If you just do theses two actions you will have increased the probabilities for your parents being able to continue living independently: Install Grab Bars and put friction “tread” tape on the floor of the tub or shower stall.