Risks for falling

If your family member has any of these problems, they have a higher chance of falling:

• Taking more than four medications.?The more medications a person takes, the greater likelihood of a fall. This is especially true if any of the drugs are known to also cause dizziness or drowsiness. Talk with the doctor or pharmacist about medication options that do not have these side effects. The pharmacist may also have tips about when to take them. For instance, taking a pill at night may be better so your relative will sleep through the dizzy period. It's also wise to have as simple a medication regimen as possible. This reduces the chance that your family member will accidentally take too many pills, or the wrong ones. You might also ask about geriatric doses. (Older adults metabolize medicines more slowly. As a result, they can easily "overdose" even when they strictly follow the doctor's recommendations. A lower dosage may well deliver the benefits of the medicine without the hazardous side effects.)
• Trouble with vision or hearing.?Many falls result from stumbling over an object that wasn't seen. Or because the person didn't hear a hazard in time to react. Have your relative get yearly vision checks. Hearing should be checked once every three years.
• Alcohol use.?Alcohol affects balance. In fact, 10 percent of all ER visits for a fall involve alcohol. And drinking among older adults occurs more often than people think. It tends to start after a loss. For example, after the death of a spouse or after friends move away. Older adults who did not drink before may turn to alcohol in their loneliness. Boredom from retirement is another common cause. And alcohol combined with prescription medications makes the chances of falling even greater. In addition, the metabolism of older adults is slower than that of younger adults. This means alcohol stays in the bloodstream longer. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends that men over age 65 have no more than two drinks per day. Women no more than one.
• Depression and isolation.?Seniors who are isolated have a greater chance of turning to alcohol. Depression can contribute to isolation. It can also lead to drinking. Fortunately, depression is a treatable condition. If you suspect your loved one is depressed, talk with the doctor. There are many treatment options.
• Incontinence.?It is not uncommon for a fall to occur because a person is rushing to get to the bathroom. Your relative may not pay as much attention to the floor and end up tripping. They may clip corners and lose balance. There are medical and nonmedical approaches to address incontinence. Don't let the hazards of urgency create a fall risk.
• Dizziness when standing.?This is the result of a drop in blood pressure. It is always best to talk with the doctor to rule out a medical cause. Some nonmedical situations contribute to this type of dizziness. These situations respond well to simple changes in habits. For instance, drinking more fluids may help with dehydration, which can contribute to low blood pressure upon standing. Sitting up in bed for five minutes before standing in the morning can help get the blood flowing well. Even better, sit in bed and do some arm and leg exercises. It can also help to eat five or six small meals during the day rather than one or two big ones. A large meal causes blood to stay in the area of the stomach for a longer time, contributing to low blood pressure. Last, a person who gets dizzy when standing should also avoid hot showers and hot rooms. Heat tends to lower blood pressure. (Plus, a fall in the bathroom is especially dangerous with all the hard surfaces!)
• Numbness in the feet.?When we lose sensation in our feet, it is difficult to keep our balance. Our brains don't get the balance-related feedback of how our weight is distributed. We also may not notice if there is a pebble underfoot or that the ground beneath is unstable or uneven. Because people with diabetes often lose sensation in their feet, they need to be especially careful about falls.
• Previous falls and a fear of falling.?If a person has fallen before, there is a greater chance they will fall again. But the fear of falling is equally disabling. Many older adults who have fallen become afraid of falling. As a result, they limit their activity unnecessarily. When they do less physically, they lose their strength, flexibility, and sense of balance. Ironically, this becomes a downward spiral. Less activity leads to less ability to prevent or catch a fall. Even after a fall, it is a wise idea to remain physically active. Talk to the doctor about an appropriate, low-key exercise program that will strength muscles and increase flexibility and balance. AND confidence!

Which of these risk factors does your loved one have?

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