Preventing falls in the elderly: 3 tips for long-term care facilities | 2022

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As our population continues to age, there are increasing numbers of elderly patients in long-term care facilities who are at risk for falls or other accidents. Falls can cause serious injuries to older adults, including fractures and broken bones. To prevent these types of accidents from happening, long-term care facilities should consider implementing the following three tips to help their older patients stay safer and healthier over time.

Statistics on falls among the elderly

Each year, approximately 1.5 million older adults are treated in emergency rooms because of a fall injury. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that older adults who live independently may be at greater risk of falling than those who live with caregivers(NSC, 2022). As we age, our bones become weaker and we lose muscle mass, making us more susceptible to injury from falls. Fall injuries often result from irregular steps or misjudgment of a step’s distance, especially when walking up or down stairs. Fall related injuries can also be caused by difficult circumstances such as slick floors (when there is spilled fluid), uncontrolled wet surfaces (indoors), uneven sidewalk surfaces, icy walkways, and slippery ground outside when rain starts to fall. So what can you do to help fall prevention among your patients? Below are three ideas to get you started:

The first idea is implementing an early warning system. In this case, it would alert staff members if someone was having trouble on their way back to bed or if they had just fallen out of bed. Staff members could then respond quickly before another incident occurred.

A second strategy could be providing grab bars near the toilet in order to assist patients with getting on and off the toilet safely. These handrails would provide additional stability for their balance while transferring from one place to another.

Fall prevention strategies

In regards to strategies, LTC facilities should address 1) environmental hazards, 2) nutritional status, and 3) patient safety. Preventative measures include reducing clutter; installing gates to prevent falls down stairs; avoiding exposure to magnetic fields if MRIs are available onsite; encouraging patients to be mobile as often as possible (provided they are not at risk of falling); and engaging in cognitive activities like puzzles and games to stimulate brain activity. If a fall does occur, it is important that medical staff responds quickly to avoid injuries such as hip fractures which can take months or years to heal. Implementing these fall prevention programs or strategies will reduce incidents of falls among the elderly population. Falls account for one third of all injury related deaths in people aged 65 and over. Falls are also the leading cause of traumatic brain injury related death among this age group. With any long-term care facility’s primary goal being to keep patients safe, there are many different ways to implement strategies without compromising patient safety. However, after reviewing studies conducted by national health organizations like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and AARP, researchers found that despite efforts to increase awareness about falls prevention among older adults, incidences of falls continue to rise(CDC, 2022). In fact, the rate increased by 34% between 2006-2011. There are three main factors that need to be addressed when implementing fall prevention strategies in LTC facilities - environmental hazards (such as clutter), nutritional status (including insufficient calorie intake), and general patient safety considerations.

Risk factors in relation to elderly falls

Injuries from falling can be life-changing, or even deadly. So it's important to address fall risk factors and reduce falls before they happen. CDC reports that there are increased risks of falling among seniors that have conditions such as diabetes, anxiety, Parkinson's disease or depression. All of these conditions have risk factors that need to be addressed as part of a holistic care plan. Some ways you can prevent these falls include having well-lit pathways with emergency call buttons placed on every floor, using specialized furniture that is easy to use and accommodates wheelchairs and wheeled walkers, giving frequent assessment of balance capabilities and minimizing slips or trips through carpet replacement or rug barriers.

Older adults typically have different risk factors than younger people when it comes to falling, such as medications they take. Elderly patients may be on a range of drugs from blood pressure medication to antidepressants. While these medications are prescribed to treat specific ailments, research has shown that certain types of drugs can increase their risk of falling by up to 30 percent or more. If you're caring for an elderly patient who is taking multiple meds, make sure their primary physician is monitoring them regularly and know about any other health conditions they may have that can make them more susceptible to falling.

Global care needs are increasing rapidly and with it there will be an increased risk of fall injuries among senior populations due mainly because of population aging(WHO, 2004).

Strategies to reduce risk of injury

In order to reduce risk of injury, it is important to focus on fall prevention interventions. Here are three tips health care providers should use when caring for an older person.

1) Make sure that you identify if they are at risk of falling, and if so, develop a plan with them to reduce their risk.

2) If they do happen to fall, be mindful of any injuries and get them medical attention immediately. Finally, encourage family members or other caregivers to check in regularly to make sure they’re safe and healthy. Not all long-term care facilities have people who do this; if yours doesn't, talk to your loved one about how often they want someone to visit. There may not be anyone close by willing to come more than once a week, but every couple weeks would work as well. Making these plans now can save lives down the road!

How To Incorporate Activities Into Daily Routines

Elderly patients can be at risk of falling due to a variety of factors, including physical limitations, medications and mental confusion. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to help prevent this from happening. Activities that may help include walking or riding on stationary bikes, playing games with other residents, taking part in exercises such as stretching and yoga classes, and participating in arts and crafts. If you would like more information on how your facility can incorporate activities into daily routines to reduce the risk of falls among elderly patients, please feel free to contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you! Senior living facilities play an important role in preventing falls among the elderly. One way is through providing exercise programs for seniors who live there, which might also serve as social events where they interact with their peers. These types of programs have been shown to reduce falls by 50%. As exercise is an important factor for preventing falls in seniors, it is critical to develop customized activity programs that cater specifically to individual needs based on age, gender, and general health condition. The following three tips will help senior living facilities better integrate exercises into daily routines in order to reduce fall rates among seniors:

1) Choose a tailored exercise program that emphasizes safe movements rather than just strength training or aerobic exercises.

References

CDC. (2022). Keep on Your Feet—Preventing Older Adult Falls. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features/older-adult-falls/index.html#:~:text=About%2036%20million%20falls%20are,bones%20or%20a%20head%20injury.

NSC. (2022). Older Adult Falls. Injuryfacts.nsc. https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/home-and-community/safety-topics/older-adult-falls/

WHO. (2004). What are the main risk factors for falls amongst older people and what are the most effective interventions to prevent these falls? . https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/74700/E82552.pdf

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