When An Older Person Falls Aliso Viejo, CA
Falls can happen to anyone. However, falls are especially common occurrences in older people, 65 years and older. While falls can be a serious problem for older people, the right education and prevention techniques can help protect your loved one.
When a fall happens, a primary care provider can give your loved ones with the personalized attention they deserve. Orange County House Calls in Aliso Viejo and the surrounding area can help. Call us at (949) 204-1334 to learn more about our services.
Falls Are a Common Problem
As people get older, their muscles weaken, their balance decreases, and they become more likely to fall. One-quarter of Americans will be older than 65 years by the year 2030. According to the CDC, falls are a common problem among this population, with about 36 million older adults falling each year.
While it is easy for younger people to stay upright, aging can bring about factors that challenge balance and strength. Medications, vision impairments, and general weakness combined with environmental factors can put older people at risk of falling. While falls are a common problem in older adults, raising awareness and using the right prevention techniques can prevent them from happening.
“According to the CDC, falls are a common problem among this population, with about 36 million older adults falling each year.”
Gauging the Extent of the Problem
When a fall occurs in an older person, it is important to gauge the extent of harm that the fall caused. Looking for signs of lacerations, skin tears, bruising, and joint deformities can help determine the fall severity. It is also crucial to look for any signs of a moderate to serious head injury.
Signs and symptoms to be aware of include abnormal behavior, excessive sleepiness, severe headaches, stiff neck, unequal pupil sizes, fainting, and vomiting. Some head injury symptoms can take a while to appear. Therefore, it is important to keep a lookout for any signs that could indicate a serious injury in the hours and days after the fall.
“Looking for signs of lacerations, skin tears, bruising, and joint deformities can help determine the fall severity.”
Signs That a Fall Occurred
While more than one out of four older adults fall each year, only half will tell their doctor. If there is suspicion that a fall has occurred, it is crucial to ask the right questions and look for signs. Older people may be reluctant to speak about the fall due to embarrassment or a fear of losing their independence. They may try to downplay these incidents to prevent them from having to rely on others. However, this prevents them from receiving the proper support and prevention measures.
When a fall is suspected, ask them if they are experiencing any pain, the pain location, and how severe it is. Sometimes family members can be non-responsive or have communicative issues that prevent them from explaining what happened. It is important to recognize symptoms such as confusion, dizziness, numbness, or difficulty breathing in these cases. Through communication and observation, try to pinpoint where an injury may have occurred and if there is any bleeding, bruising, or other signs of injury.
“While more than one out of four older people fall each year, only half will tell their doctor.”
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How a Primary Care Doctor Can Help
When an older person has fallen, a primary care doctor can provide timely and reliable access to the care they need. Information about the fall's height, the surface on which the patient fell, and the point of impact will help us anticipate injury patterns and determine the patient's risk for severe injury. Elderly patients can have significant injuries despite minor symptoms.
We will go over their medical history and perform a thorough physical examination to look for common injuries such as lacerations, sprains, and fractures during the physical examination and determine the best treatment course. We will distinguish which patients can have treatment in a primary care office setting and which patients will require transfer to a higher level of care. Even if the patient only has minor injuries, we will take the time to provide proper education to prevent falls in the future.
“When an older person has fallen, a primary care doctor can provide timely and easy access to the care they need.”
Questions Answered on This Page
Q. Is falling a common problem in older people?
Q. What signs should people look out for to gauge the severity of a fall?
Q. How can a primary care doctor help an older person that has fallen?
Q. How can older people prevent falls in their homes?
People Also Ask
Q. Who is more susceptible to falls?
Preventing Falls in the Home
The best way to prevent falls is to address and minimize risks before they can threaten an aging loved one's health. Taking certain precautions can extend a senior's independence and help them feel more confident in their own homes. Older people can make small but effective modifications to their homes to prevent falls from happening. Helpful modifications include:
- Altering prescription medications
- Installing grab bars
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Reducing clutter
- Using a medical alert system
- Using a mobility aid
“The best way to prevent falls is to address and minimize risks before they can threaten an aging loved one’s health.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What can happen after a fall?
A. Many falls do not cause injuries. However, one out of five falls results in a serious injury such as a broken bone or a head injury. These injuries can make it difficult for a person to go about their everyday activities or live independently.
Q. What should I do if I witness someone fall, but they do not seem seriously injured?
A. If you witness someone fall, do not try to get the person up immediately. First, check for any serious signs of injury such as serious bleeding, bruising, or swelling. If there are no obvious signs of injury and do not seem badly hurt, assist them in a comfortable position. Help them get medical help to ensure that there are no problems or injuries.
Q. What are the behavioral risk factors of falling?
A. There are behavioral risk factors that people may or may not realize they are doing that contribute to their risk of falling. Risk factors include limited physical activity and exercise and poor nutrition and fluid intake, increasing weakness and stability. Wearing inappropriate clothing, footwear, or engaging in risky behaviors like carrying, reaching, and bending can also increase the risk of falling.
Q. Why are older people more prone to falling?
A. Many factors can cause older people to fall more easily. However, the three main reasons include chronic health conditions, impairments, and balance affecting illnesses. There are many chronic health conditions, but heart disease, dementia, or low blood pressure can cause dizziness. Impairments can include anything from lines of poor vision or muscle weakness. Any illness that affects balance can increase the risk of falling.
Q. Is there a common time of day when falls occur the most often?
A. Most falls occur at particular times of the day. Many falls occur early in the morning when people are drowsy after waking up or late at night when they are tired and heading upstairs to bed. It is especially important to go slow, be careful, and take frequent pauses to avoid falling during these times.
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By visiting us as soon as possible, our team can help get you the professional treatment you need. Instead of waiting around and allowing the symptoms to get worse, we can provide you with treatment options.
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Definition of Medical Terminology
Call Us Today
If your loved one has fallen, our primary care team can help assess their injuries and provide personalized treatment and prevention education. Orange County House Calls offers quality primary care to Aliso Viejo and the surrounding area. To learn more about our services, call us at 949-204-1334 today.
Helpful Related Links
- American Assocation of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine. American Assocation of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine. 2024
- American Journal of Medicine. American Journal of Medicine. 2024
- American Medical Association (AMA). American Medical Association (AMA). 2024
- American Society of Radiologic Technologists. American Society of Radiologic Technologists. 2024
- John Hopkins Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery. John Hopkins Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery. 2024
- National Council on Aging. National Council on Aging. 2024
- National Spine Health Association. National Spine Health Association. 2024
- Orthopaedic Surgery: Association of American Medical Colleges. Orthopaedic Surgery: Association of American Medical Colleges. 2024
- RadiologyInfo.org. RadiologyInfo.org. 2024
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