Accidents And Falls In The Home: Causes And Prevention

Falling And Accidents In The Home: Causes And Prevention

Biological and medical, behaviorial, environmental, and socio-economic risk factors can interact and compound. Normal aging inevitably brings physical, cognitive and affective changes which may contribute to the risk of falls. The sex of the individual is also an important consideration, as
women tend to fall more often than men, and sustain more injuries when they fall. Advanced
age (i.e. the physical disorders associated with age) is associated with higher rates of falls
and fall injuries in the home. The pages below explore these risk factors in greater detail,
explore ways to determine if you or a loved one is vulnerable to a fall, and methods to
prevent falls in the home:

International government studies have reported that falls in the home by the elderly and disabled can result from a complex interaction of risk factors. As the number of risk factors increase, the risk of a damaging or life-threatening fall also increases.

Medical Risk Factors Of Falls In The Home:
The physical and cognitive changes that eventually occur with aging can contribute to the risk of falls in the home. These changes can be metabolic, musculoskeletal, sensory, and neurological....(more)

Behavioral Risk Factors That Contribute To Falls:
Behavioral risk factors contributing to falls can include lifestyle choices such as alcohol consumption, lack of exercise and/or poor diet, or the use of medicine with negative physical and neurological side effects....(more)

Environmental Risk Factors Of Falls:
Between 25 and 75% of falls in older people involve an environmental component. Researchers have recognized a number of hazards in the home and public environment that contribute to falls and related injuries....(more)

Assessing The Risk Of A Fall:
Are you or a loved one at risk for a fall in the home, resulting in injury? It is important to first perform a brief risk assessment, to determine whether a more comprehensive assessment by a professional clinician is necessary....(more)

How To Prevent Falls In The Home:
Methods of preventing accidental falls in the home can include modifications of exercise routines, medications, and/or diet, treatment of health conditions that contribute to falls, prescribing assistive devices, or improving the patient's living environment....(more)

More Medical Alert Resources On MedicalAlertReviews.Com:

Medical Alert Basics

Special Features Of Medical Alert Systems

Guide To Independent Living

Home Safety

Preventing Accidents In The Home