Did you know that falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries for older Americans? According to the U.S. Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of Americans aged 65+ falls each year. Even more astounding, every 19 minutes an older adult dies from a fall. The good news is that falling is not an inevitable result of aging. Through evidence-based falls prevention programs and community partnerships, these numbers can be reduced. Follow these steps to help ensure that your loved one is balanced.
- Complete a walk-through safety assessment in their home. Nurse Kim does these on a regular basis with our participants and will assist you upon request.
- Talk about their medications and be familiar with the side-effects.
- Notice if they appear unbalanced when they are walking or moving around. Seek professional help for information to help them remain balanced.
- Ask about their last eye checkup. If they wear eye glasses, make sure they have a current prescription.
- Discuss their current health conditions.
- Talk to them and find out if they are concerned about falling. Many older adults recognize the risk of falling, but think it will not happen to them.
For more information, please contact JEVS at Home Nurse Kim at Kimberly.McIlhenny@jevsathome.org or visit http://www.ncoa.org/FallsPrevention.
