Today, September 23, 2019 is the annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day (FPAD) which “raises awareness about how to prevent fall-related injuries among older adults.” According to Aging Care, “Falls are the leading cause of death, injury and hospital admissions among the elderly population.” The National Council on Aging (NCOA) reports that one out of every four Americans over the age of 65 falls annually.
Aging Care explains that the main reasons for falls in the elderly are:
- Decline in physical fitness
- Impaired vision
- Medications
- Chronic diseases
- Surgical procedures
- Environmental hazards
- Behavioral hazards
Everyday Health suggests some of the following ways to prevent falling at home:
- Clean up clutter
- Repair or remove tripping hazards
- Install grab bars and handrails
- Avoid wearing loose clothing
- Wear shoes
- Live on one level
- Move more carefully
For serious injuries after a fall, call 911. For non-life-threatening emergencies or to schedule an annual physical at any of our convenient Primary Medical Care Center community clinics, you may visit our website at www.primarymed.com, or call (305)751-1500 for our Miami-Dade clinic, or (954)289-0000 for our Broward clinic.
Sources: https://www.everydayhealth.com/
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/falls-in-elderly-people-133953.htm
https://www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/falls-prevention/falls-prevention-awareness-day/