Falling poses a serious danger for the elderly. So much so, that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are working to increase healthcare provider’s understanding of the dangers of falling. Falls lead to approximately 27,000 fatalities each year, and sadly, most of those at risk are older Americans. The issue has become so troubling, that safety advocated have begun to call the matter a public health issue.
Falls have become a major health concern for older Americans. In fact, data from 2014 shows that, on average, an older American suffered a fall in every second of every day. Those falls caused an estimated 29 million injuries which contributed to $31 billion in Medicare costs.
To help prevent such devastating injuries and financial losses, the CDC is implementing a new fall prevention strategy. Focused on educating healthcare providers, the CDC hopes its STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) program will bring nationwide attention to the issue.
Through the STEADI initiative, the CDC will:
- Teach healthcare providers how to screen for patients at risk for falls
- Provide online training
- Provide instructional videos on conducting appropriate functional assessments
- Provide educational brochures to all stakeholders in the life of an older American
Further Reading: The Importance of Rest After a Brain Injury
Fall Prevention
While the CDC continues the work to keep all senior Americans safe by bringing national awareness of the issue to healthcare providers and care givers, there are things you can do to keep your elderly loved ones safe. If you have an elderly loved one who is currently in a nursing home, or soon will be, the following are some tips that could help reduce their risk of falling:
- Talk to your loved one’s medical provider. Ask about fall risk and prevention. Find out if any of their prescribed medications might increase their risk of falling.
- Encourage your loved one to be honest about whether they have experienced a fall- even if they feel like it wasn’t serious. Statistics show that although one-quarter of older Americans fall every year, less than half of them report it to anyone.
- Have your loved one’s vision checked regularly so that prescriptions can be adjusted accordingly. Clear vision is an important way to prevent falls.
- Enquire about strength and balance enhancing exercise programs, which can do wonders for improving the strength and balance of your elderly loved one.
- Look out for tripping hazards- especially if your loved one lives in a nursing home. Blanket edges that reach the ground or any other misplaced object can cause a serious fall.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers
If you or someone you love has been injured in a slip and fall accident, it is important to discuss your accident with an experienced Pueblo Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer immediately. Your attorney will review the details of your case to determine if negligence was the cause of your accident and subsequent injury. Call Pueblo attorneys at Smith & Smith, today for a FREE CONSULTATION – (719) 544-0062.
