“The falls are involuntary events that make their balance lose and find the body on the ground or on another firm surface that stops it. The injuries caused by falls can be mortal, although most of them are not,” explains the World Health Organization (WHO). In the case of falls in older adults, they have an even more harmful effect.
According to WHO, age is one of the main risk factors of falling. “The elderly are the ones who run the greatest risk of dying and suffering injuries, And the risk in this group increases with age, ”they detail.
The magnitude of the risk may depend, in large part, on the physical, sensitive and cognitive disorders related to aging, as well as the lack of adaptation of the environment to the needs of the elderly.
According to the specialist of geriatrics and emergencies of older adults and medical director of the Center for Geriatrics of Guatemala, Raúl Pineda Amézquita, in case of an accidental fall of an older adult it is essential to “act calmly, speed and care to avoid aggravating possible injuries and guarantee adequate care”.
Pineda points out that in those cases knowing the geriatric medical history becomes important to recognize what the cause of the fall was. “From 60 years and older, every fall in an older adult has a cause,” says the expert.
These are the actions to be taken in case that happens:
- Look for medical care and contact your doctor Geriatrafsd
- Keep calm and evaluate the situation
- Call emergencies if necessary (for example, if the patient is not aware or there is active bleeding)
- Check if there are visible injuries or pain
- If it is sure to help the person get up
older adults. (Free Press Photo: Shuttersock)
How to avoid falling at home?
At the discretion of Pineda, from home we can take a series of precautions and measures to avoid the falls of older adults or reduce the risk to the maximum.
The specialist recommends the following to those who are in care for an older adult:
- It is essential to know if the patient is at risk of falls to be more careful, this should be diagnosed by a geriatrician.
- It is important to know if the person takes medications that can lower blood pressure.
- It is suggested to check if the patient has a good self -care, for example, if he takes liquids every day.
- Evaluate whether there are pets that can increase the risk of falling, due to involuntary stumbling.
- Evaluate optical, auditory and reflex capabilities of the person.
- Perform an evaluation of muscle strength or loss of force mainly of the legs.
- Perform dependency tests, that is, evaluate the level of assistance required by the person for basic activities.
Recommendations in special cases
In some cases, despite taking the corresponding precautions, incidents occur in the home. In case of a fall, it is suggested to go immediately before a geriatric doctor if the elderly presents:
- Intense or persistent pain.
- Difficulty moving or walking (if the person cannot move it is not advisable to force the movements, until they are evaluated by expert personnel).
- Fracture suspicion (deformity, swelling, immobility).
- Changes in mental state (disorientation, loss of consciousness).
- Frequent falls
It is important to notice that any fall must be evaluated if there are doubts, although there are no obvious signs of injury. It is necessary to go to an emergency unit when: the person loses consciousness, there is loss of appetite, intense or localized pain, abundant bleeding, difficulty breathing or speaking, there is confusion, symptoms that worsen over time or weakness. “These signals indicate that the fall can be more serious than it seems, ”concludes the expert.