FALLING IN AGED PEOPLE:

As the person gets old, the chances of falling down increase too. It is important to find the cause of falling down and remove or decrease the causes to prevent the chances of falling down as in old age people can this can lead to serious consequences from bone fracture to head injury.

Falling on the ground at a young age is slightly different than older age people because the reflex action of young people works well and they are mostly able to control themselves and prevent falling, even if they fall then they have strong muscles and bones that can withstand minor falls.

On the other hand reflex of a person decreases in old age and also they have weak muscle and bone strength, so when they fall they are not able to control or protect themselves which can result in serious injury.

CAUSES OF FALLING IN AGED PEOPLE :

1) Cardiac-related problems like an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), cardiac failure, myocardial ischemia, and hypotension.

2) A diabetic person can fall on the ground due to a sudden drop in sugar level which is known as hypoglycemia.

 3) Eyesight problems are common in old age people such as cataracts, and glaucoma which can lead to a decrease in the vision of the person. A person with difficulty in vision has more chance of falling.

4) vertigo is also one of the causes of loss of balance and falls.

5) slipping while walking on slippery or marble floors.

6) overweight old people have more chances of falling as it takes more to control the body.

7) people with arthritis or other bone-related problems in which pain becomes more common while walking and in conditions of unbearable pain can fall also.

8) shoes or slippers without proper grip to hold the ground.

9) Falling in the bathroom is very common because of the water on the floor it gets more difficult to walk. 

10) walking under the influence of alcohol can lead to falling.

11) Taking medicines that produce sedation can cause falls in old people.

 APPROACH TO FIND THE CAUSE OF FALLING:

It is important to find the cause of falling and it can be done by talking to the patient and taking a proper history.

1) The patient should be asked if he or she got unconscious and fell down or slipped and fell.

2) If a person is taking any medicines or missed taking medicines after which the fall happened.

3) was the person under the influence of alcohol when fell down?

 INVESTIGATION:

 1) Complete blood count and routine urine should be done to find hemoglobin levels and also to rule out any infection.  

2) Cholesterol level, liver, and kidney function should be checked too.

3) Serum electrolyte measurement should be done.

4) ECG to rule out any cardiac problem. Echocardiography to find out cardiac output, any valvular problem, or other heart-related problems.

5) CT OR MRI SCAN of the brain can be done if any brain pathology is suspected.  

6) Proper eye examination to find any eyesight-related problems.

7) Fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels should be checked to find the sugar level of the person.

 PREVENTION OF FALL IN OLD AGE:

 

1) If a person is already suffering from a cardiac problem, hypertension, diabetes, or any neurological problem then it is important to get doctor advice and take medication as prescribed by the doctor. 

2) It is important that old age people don’t live alone and someone should be there all the time to take care of them. 

3) The person taking care of old age people should be knowing everything about their medical condition and the medicines they are taking so that in case of emergency, he or she can give the information to the medical team.  

4) If cataract or glaucoma is present then appropriate treatment should be done to conserve the eyesight.  

5) vertigo should be treated to prevent sudden dizziness and falls. 

6) If low hemoglobin then it should be treated.

7) Good quality slippers and shoes should be used to prevent falling.

8) If obese then weight reduction should be advised and proper diet should be explained to them.  

9) Arthritis patients should be given proper medication and physiotherapy to prevent bone problems and pain.  

10) At night, it’s better to switch on the light and then get up from the bed to prevent accidental falls in the darkness. The light switch should be near the bed so that it’s easy to switch on the light.

11) Old people should be extra careful in the bathroom and if possible then some family member should take them to the bathroom, it is also better to avoid latching the door so that in case of a fall someone is there to pick them up.

12) Avoid the use of alcohol as there are more chances of falling under the influence of alcohol.

 13) Vitamin D and calcium are usually prescribed by the doctor to improve the overall health and bone strength of old people.  

14) Sudden standing from sitting or lying down position should be avoided as it can lead to a sudden loss of consciousness due to ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE:

 Falling is common among old age people and it’s dangerous too. So proper care should be taken to prevent this. Take the medicine as prescribed by the doctor and someone should be there to take care of aged people.

 

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