(Part 1 – Internal Factors)

Falls and their consequences are the leading cause of death in people 65 years and older. For people 85 and older, it’s estimated that one in five falls results in death.

Until recently, most falls have been blamed on a single cause – precipitated by either a medical event or an “accident” related to the environment. Today, researchers know that falls are rarely the result of an isolated event. Rather falls are complex events caused by the interaction of both internal and external factors.

Most falls represent the end result of a series of independent and often small risks. Individually, such risks pose no harm. Young and able-bodied people can manage avoid many daily mishaps so naturally, they never even realize it. Eventually though, age, disability or compromised health not only created its own risks, it can make it impossible to deal with even the simplest environmental risks.

Often, a fall “happens” (meaning, factors set it in motion) long before the victim encounters the event. As relatives and caregivers, it becomes our responsibility to recognize and correct those factors—both physiological and environmental— and break the chain of risk, before a fall occurs. Prevention is no accident.

Internal risk factors

A number of physiological and medical factors play a role in causing falls. Understanding these can help you reduce the risks from these and other factors. Here are a few major ones.

Changes in muscles and bones. Changes in muscles and joints not only make movement more difficult, they also make it harder to correct for a sudden loss of balance. Loss of strength in the legs or upper arms limits the ability to transfer in and out of bed or a chair.

Vision changes. As people get older it becomes harder for the eyes to adjust to varying levels of lightness and darkness. We become more sensitive to glare. Decreased depth perception also makes it hard to distinguish high-contrast patterns from actual elevation changes.

Balance problems. Aging naturally diminishes the body’s natural automatic reflexes that enable people to properly interpret and re-orient their center of gravity as they move or walk. Changes in gait (such as walking with a narrower or wider stance than usual) increase the risk of catching a foot on an obstruction.

Cardiovascular difficulties. Numbness in the limbs affects the ability to sense the ground or command their limbs to adjust to it. Cardiovascular problems can also cause sudden loss of blood to the brain, resulting in fainting.

Medications. Many drugs (including alcohol) affect judgment and coordination. Tranquilizers can slow reflexes. Others increase the risk of fainting

Chronic or acute diseases. Falls may often be the initial symptom of a disease. Degenerative disorders only compound the risk of falls.

Depression, stress or lack of sleep. Such issues can make people preoccupied and less alert to the dangers around them.

You can help prevent falls in one of the most dangerous rooms in the home, by equipping your bathroom with readily available devices including secure hand rails, a raised toilet seat, a bathing chair, easy-to-reach shower controls, and non-slip shower/tub liners.

For more information and a FREE REPORT “Discover the Secrets That Allow Seniors To Stay At Home For Life”, please go to http:// www.homecareassistancedenver.com

Marilyn Rowe, CEO & Owner, Home Care Assistance of Denver