Thankam walked every day with her friends. These were the same friends who had rallied around her after her husband passed away, and they were a constant source of support to her.
Despite this, when the 64-year-old had a few giddy spells, especially in the mornings, she didn’t discuss it with them. In fact, she thought nothing of them at all. Thankam just put it down to a by-product of old age. But one day, she slipped in the bathroom, and fell unconscious. When she came to, she found she had fractured her hip. She had to go in for surgery that left her depressed and confined to her bed.
Thankam is not the only one. Studies have shown that one in three elders above the age of 60 fall every year and injure themselves and the numbers increase with increase in age. A fall is a consequence of what is known as the Geriatric Giants, a term indicating the drastic effect old age can have on the quality of life. The giants are frailty, sarcopenia (degeneration of muscle mass), the anorexia of ageing (loss of appetite), and cognitive impairment. But it’s not just the actual falling. Even a fear of it is a major contributor to increased dependence and lower mobility. This in turn restricts activity and leads to social isolation.
What you should know
- More than half of the falls in the elderly happen in the mornings
- Falls account for majority of hip fractures
- Most falls occur during a walk or while bathing
- 40% of falls happen at home, either in the restroom or in the area just outside the bathroom (thanks to wet floors or tripping over footmats or objects left lying around)
Why do the elderly fall?
- As bodies age, muscles undergo de-conditioning as part of lower mobility and loss of protein mass
- Bad eyesight leads to tripping and falling
- Medications (especially sleeping aids, anti- depressants, blood-pressure-lowering medication and anti-seizure medicines)
- Neuropathy, especially in elders with conditions like diabetes, causes impairment in judgement of ground level and leads to falls
- Movement disorders like Parkinson’s causes impairment in coordination and balance
- Urgency to pass urine and an inability to control the urge, often leads to falls.
- Knee pain sometimes leads to the legs buckling while walking
Preventing a fall
-Keep your home clutter-free and ensure pathways are always clear and well lit.
-Have your medications reviewed by your physician as sometimes various drugs and drug interactions can contribute to falls. It is better to have a single prescription of all your medicines.
- Use walkers and canes recommended by a medical team. Unnecessary use of walking aides also contributes to falls.
Walking is the best exercise to strengthen your muscles and improve balance. Consult a physiotherapist to assess your gait and recommend specific exercises.
- Modify your home to suit your body needs. Hand rails and grabs keep you safe
- Simple modifications like overhead lights, a commode raiser and a hand-held shower reduces the risk of falls.
- Keep floors and tiles dry.
- Manage incontinence with trainable bladder habits, the use of diapers and medications.
- Balance exercises like yoga and Tai Chi improve your balance and coordination.
- Check your vision regularly. Always wear glasses when walking.
- Wear appropriate footwear, both indoors and outdoors.
Always consult your physician.
Dr Rahul Padmanabhan is a Coimbatore-based consultant in geriatrics and gerontology with a decade of experience in elder care. He specializes in home and community based geriatrics and is currently medical director of Dr Rahul’s Elder Care, Coimbatore.
