About one-third of older people who live at home fall, and more than half of those in nursing homes do so. Falls are a leading cause of death and injury in elderly people, and they increase with age.
Falls can be caused by physical conditions that impair mobility or balance, by environmental hazards, and by potentially hazardous situations. Hazards may include a wet floor, a loose rug, or a step that's too high. Some fall injuries are serious, like broken bones or torn ligaments.
Older people are more likely to break a bone in a fall because they have porous, fragile bones (osteoporosis). https://personalmedicalalarm.com/wandering/ Bone fractures and other severe injuries occur in about one-quarter of falls among the elderly.
A doctor's assessment of a person who falls can help identify the causes of the fall and prevent future falls. https://personalmedicalalarm.com/ It includes a physical examination and other tests.
The doctor will examine the muscles, spine, and feet to check for problems with coordination, strength, and sense of balance. He or she will also examine the eyes to look for a problem with depth perception.
Doctors may also do a review of the person's medications to find drugs that might have contributed to the dizziness or lightheadedness that caused the fall. If this is the case, a medication review can help prevent another fall or reduce the risks of falling.
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A doctor can also tell if a person is at risk of falling because of a medical condition, such as arthritis or back pain. If this is the case, doctors will work with the patient to modify activities or make changes in the environment that can prevent falls and injuries.
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