By John Campanola
Allow me to start off this month’s article by honoring my Irish readers, as well as all of us that feel Irish around St. Patrick’s Day, with two of my favorite Irish toasts:
“May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.”
“May you live to be a hundred years – with one extra year to repent.”
These toasts provide a great lead in for this month’s topic on Senior Safety. Seniors are the fastest growing population group in the United States. In 2000, there were an estimated 35 million people age 65 and older, representing about 13 percent of the population. It is predicted that by 2030, this number will double to 70 million people, or about 20 percent. One in five Americans will be age 65 and older!
For those of us that are coming on in years this is, of course, great news. Americans are living longer than ever before. Life expectancy at age 65 increased from 16.4 years in 1980 to 18.2 years in 2002.
Moreover, the quality of life for seniors has significantly increased. Most are healthier, wealthier, and better educated than previous generations. Proportionately, the number of seniors with chronic disabilities continues to decline. In a way, being 65 in 2005 could be likened to being 55 in 1980. With a myriad of things for seniors to do, it is critical that they have the ability to function independently.
That being said, last month I included a section in my article entitled, “What to do if you fall?”. While some readers remarked on the usefulness of this section, a few questioned its relevance. Falls, however, are a major concern to all of us.
Did you know that falls are the leading cause of injury death among persons 65 years and older? According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2001 alone, 11,627 people age 65 and older died as a result of a fall. Among the elderly, 54 percent of fatal falls occurred in the home, 20 percent in institutions, 13 percent in public places, and 13 percent in unspecified places.
If there still are any questions on the relevance of falling, note the following statistic from the Centers for Disease Control: “One out of every three people over age 65 will fall this year”.
Many falls result in a call for help. Florida Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers respond to over 2.9 million calls (of all types) every year. The volume of calls in Florida increases over 10 percent in the winter months.
Falls are also a major cause of severe non-fatal injuries and a common cause of hospital admissions. Hip fractures, for example, are one of the major and most severe injuries. 300,000 people suffer fractured hips every year. Ninety percent of these injuries are to people over 65. Almost 100,000 of those injured don’t survive more than a year after they are hurt, according to Dr. Todd Schlifstein of the Rusk Institute, mostly because of complications following surgery and the resulting immobility. These dangers include blood clots and pneumonia.
By now I’m sure that you would agree that it is best if we don’t fall. That, of course, is sometimes easier said than done. Eating right and taking calcium supplements and vitamin D will help to keep your bones stronger and, therefore, less prone to injury should you fall.
Exercise is also important since it improves bone mass, muscle strength and balance and this in turn helps prevent falls. It needs to be noted that falling is not necessarily a product of clumsiness. Many can be prevented by following a few simple rules.
- Have an annual eye exam and wear proper glasses. Falls often occur when people are not wearing their glasses, or have glaucoma or cataracts.
- Check your medications. Many have mild sedatives and if you are piggybacking different drugs, you might suffer from distraction, balance problems or confusion. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your drug intake.
- More than half of all falls occur in the home. Remove small throw rugs or have non-skid padding under them. Get rid of clutter. Make sure the path from your bed to the bathroom is well lit and easy to maneuver so you can move easily if you get up in the night to go to the bathroom.
- The bathroom is a common site for falls because of the smooth surfaces and water. Install handrails, put non-slip decals or a bath mat in the bathtub, and use a bathtub chair or bench when you bathe.
- Install handrails and slip-resistant floor coverings on staircases.
- If you use a walker or a cane, make sure you know how to handle them safely, and use them regularly.
- Wear low shoes and rubber heals.
- Check outside for uneven ground. Level problem areas or mark them to prevent a fall.
If you do fall and cannot get up you should: press your Medical Alert pendant (if you subscribe to this service) and lie comfortably until help arrives. Otherwise, you should slide or crawl to get help if you can. You might be able to reach the telephone, door to the outside, or something to make a loud noise – like pots and pans. Once you reach someone tell them that you have fallen and need help. After calling for help, lie quietly until help arrives. Keep as warm and comfortable as you can.
While falling is a concern, there has never been a better time to be a senior. The opportunities are virtually endless so long as you are able to maintain your ability to function independently.
This article originally appeared in Viewpointe of Boca Pointe published in March of 2005.