Editor’s Note: Hip fracture in the elderly is a common clinical case, and its causes are mostly caused by falls in the elderly. So in daily life, what aspects do we need to pay attention to to prevent the elderly from falling down?
Falling in the elderly is an inevitable physiological process in normal human aging. With the growth of age and bone loss, The number of falls and the degree of injury they cause will increase. Falls are the main cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in people over 65 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common injuries caused by falls include head injuries, shoulder and wrist fractures, spinal fractures, pelvic fractures and hip fractures.
Falling is often the first event that the elderly lose their ability to take care of themselves. Older people often fall into a vicious circle: fear of falling again-refusing any physical exercise-further decline in physical function-falling again. Then the final result is that the elderly are injured and hospitalized, their mobility and self-care ability are reduced, and eventually they have to need others to take care of them all the year round.
According to United States statistics, One third of people over 65 years old fall every year. More than 90% of hip fractures are caused by falls. Even with the best treatment, only 25% of hip fracture patients can fully recover, 40% need professional care in nursing homes, 50% rely on crutches or walkers for life, and the mortality rate of patients one year after injury is as high as 20%.
Therefore, how to prevent the elderly from falling down is a common sense that every doctor and every child should master, which can not only reduce the pain of the elderly, but also greatly reduce the burden on society, families and individuals.
How to prevent
First, understand the health status and medication situation
1. Undertake ophthalmic examination and cardiovascular examination at least once a year.
2. Ensure sufficient calcium and vitamin D in your diet.
3. Quit smoking.
4. Avoid excessive drinking.
5. Summarize and classify the drugs you take everyday, and it is best to make cards that you carry with you, so that doctors and others can make clear the medication situation in time.
6. Pay attention to the drug instructions. Many drugs will cause fatigue or change mental state, thus greatly increasing the risk of falling.
7. Ensure that all drugs are marked in good condition and that the light is good when taking them.
8. Drink regularly.
Second, exercise
1. Formulate appropriate and effective exercise plans according to specific conditions.
2. If physical conditions permit, taking part in some exercise activities that can increase agility, strength, balance and coordination, such as walking, dancing and appropriate strength training, can help improve bone strength and slow down the process of osteoporosis.
3. Communicate more with peers, share their exercise plans, and improve their health and quality of life.
Three, choose suitable shoes
1. Wear anti-skid shoes that fit your feet and avoid wearing pointed shoes and high heels.
2. Try to wear shoes that do not require shoelaces.
3. If there is discomfort in the waist, it is recommended to use a long-handled shoe pull when wearing shoes.
4. Replace deformed or too loose shoes in time.
Fourth, improve the home environment
A large number of studies have shown that even the simplest modification at home can greatly reduce the probability of falls.
Bedroom
1. The bedside table shall be equipped with desk lamps, telephones and flashlights.
2. The bed height is suitable for getting on and off the bed.
3. Replace too smooth bed sheets or quilt covers with rough materials, such as wool or cotton, to prevent the elderly from slipping on the bed sheets or quilt covers.
4. The wardrobe is of appropriate height, which is convenient for storing and taking out clothes.
5. Night lights should be installed along the bedroom and toilet.
6. Keep the ground clean and tidy.
Living room
1. The furniture layout is reasonable, and the passage between the living room and bedroom should be spacious and easy to operate.
2. It is not recommended to place low articles such as tea tables, low stools and storage boxes between the passages.
3. Lighting switches should be installed on the inner and outer walls of each room in the home to ensure that each room is bright when entering, and there is no need to find the switch in the dark.
4. Ensure sufficient light when walking in the room.
5. The circuit and network cable shall be buried in the wall or under the floor to avoid tripping.
6. Double-sided adhesive tape, nails or other measures should be used to fix the periphery of the carpet to prevent the periphery of the carpet from protruding and rolling up.
7. Don’t sit on a chair or sofa that is too low to avoid the difficulty of getting up due to the lack of lower limb strength of the elderly.
8. Once the wood floor bulges, it should be repaired or replaced in time.
9. No steps or thresholds should be designed in the home.
Kitchen
1. Carpets are not recommended in the kitchen.
2. Once any liquid, grease or food is sprinkled on the floor, it must be cleaned immediately. It is recommended to ask young people to clean it up.
3. Food, tableware and kitchenware should be placed in an easy-to-take position.
4. Avoid standing on support tools with poor stability such as chairs or boxes when taking high-altitude articles.
5. Use anti-skid floor wax.
Bathroom
1. Use anti-skid carpet in bathroom.
2. Install a fixed container for bath lotion on the shower wall. Soap or bottled bath lotion is not recommended.
3. Install handrails on the walls of the bathroom.
4. Install night lights in the bathroom.
5. Glass products or fragile products are not recommended in the bathroom.
Five, matters needing attention after falling
1. Don’t panic, lie prone on the floor for help.
2. If you are alone at home, move slowly to assess whether you are injured.
3. If you can move, slowly climb to the nearest wall, sofa or chair and try to help and stand up.
4. If you cannot move or crawl, find ways to contact your family, neighbors or 120 as soon as possible.
Author: Huang Tianlong