by David Hinkson
Every year, one in three persons over the age of 65 years experiences a fall, and one in five of those falls causes a serious injury, whether broken bones or head trauma.
And some three million older people receive treatment in emergency departments at hospitals owing to injuries sustained during falls.
Those sobering global figures came to the fore as the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) recently held a Zoom workshop entitled “The Impact of Falls”.
The main speaker, Dr. Gustavo Gomez, an orthopaedic specialist at the FCV Medical Complex in Colombia, told participants: “Falls are also the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries, and over 95 per cent of hip fractures are caused by falling, usually when a person falls sideways.”
He also noted that based on his observations, “It is mostly women who experience falls among older people, since they tend to be more active in terms of looking after the grandchildren and doing other work around the house.”
He also outlined some of the factors that could trigger falls among older people. “Generally speaking, sometimes older people have difficulties in walking and maintaining their balance, and this can come about as a result of chronic health conditions such as arthritis, strokes, heart disease and low blood pressure. And some of the medications they take to alleviate these conditions may cause dizziness or other adverse side effects that may lead to falls. Also, poor vision, inadequate footwear, or environmental factors such as clutter around the home or a lack of grab rails on staircases or the shower or bathtub can create problems.”
In discussing some preventative measures, Dr. Gomez stated that keeping in shape from a young age and maintaining a proper diet could be beneficial as people grew older.
“The same way you can start saving money from a young age so that it can benefit you when you get older, if you start exercising from young it builds up your calcium and collagen levels which will help you in your later years.
“You can also start taking calcium supplements, and exercise can include swimming, walking or dancing for about 45 minutes to an hour each day.
“In terms of diet, foods containing omegas 3 and 6, such as fish oils, Vitamin D supplements, as well as glucosamine, can help. Excessive alcohol consumption at a young age may also lead to osteoporosis which may increase your risk of falling.”
Other preventative measures Dr. Gomez recommended included making sure the home was physically safer for its older residents.
“Add grab bars to the shower or bathtub, ensure the railings on any staircases are intact and on both sides; ensure there is proper lighting; put any frequently used items within easy reach, such as on lower shelves in a cabinet; use non-slip mats on the shower floor and bathtub and clear the floor of any items that you can trip over.
“If you do fall, stay calm and try not to move too quickly. But once you ‘catch yourself’, roll onto your hands and knees, find a stable piece of furniture to lean on; get up slowly, then sit for a while before going any further.’
“If you are hurt or cannot get up, try to crawl to the nearest phone, and ensure you have a relative or emergency services on speed dial so you can call quickly for assistance.”
