Fall Prevention Coalition Blog

When we were kids, we fell a lot.  From trees, off bikes, chairs, desks, even the roof. Males tend to have riskier behavior, like my brother Bob, who fell from all the above and then some.  At the time, most of our falls seemed to be minor with a scrape or bruise the only damage.   Reflecting back at our early experiences of falls both big and small, it’s not surprising that we don’t understand the consequences of falling in our later years. 

According to the National Safety Council, falls accounted for 70% of emergency room visits in 2007 for older adults.  In 2000, direct medical costs associated with falls were over $19 billion dollars. Nearly 60% of all older adults will experience a fall.  More than half of this number will fall multiple times. According to the Center for Disease Control, each year, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls. Falls can lead to moderate to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head traumas, and can even increase the risk of early death. In fact, one quarter of those who suffer a hip fracture as a result of a fall will die within one year of their injury.  Many, many more will be unable to live independently and will need to move to assisted living, memory care or skilled nursing.  These are very scary statistics, but there is good news. 
Falls are a public health problem that is largely preventable.  By creating awareness and being proactive about fall risks, the negative outcomes described above can be reduced or even eliminated.  By preventing falls in older adults we can greatly increase the length of time a person can remain independent in his or her own home with a higher quality of life. 
The Arizona Fall Prevention Coalition, comprised of over 200 community professionals, has made it their mission to bring awareness to older adults about the consequences of falling.  Using educational opportunities, speaking engagements, clinics and literature it is the goal of the coalition to significantly reduce falling in older adults.  Why are we promoting prevention?   The members of the AZ Falls Prevention Coalition provide information and access to services or direct care for the person and families who have experienced a fall first hand.  It is disheartening to see what could have been prevented with a few simple modifications to the home, an awareness of medication interactions or an increase in physical activity.

Take the time to view the contents of the www.azstopfalls.org  website content. We have placed some valuable information regarding, medication management, physical activities, and home modification for you to read and follow. 
When we were kids, our falls had a different outcome than they do today. Be aware of fall risks and remember falls are preventable.  The members of the Arizona Fall Prevention Coalition encourage you to read the information on the website and do what you can to be active in fall prevention for yourself or a loved one.   Our goal is for you to have a healthy and independent life.
--- By Deborah White, Client Care Coordinator for Bivens & Associates, PLLC.  Elder Law Attorneys.  www.bivenslaw.com  

The Next Step

Without getting into too many particulars, my family recently sought out an assisted living facility for my mother.  Keeping the steadfast rule, “safety first” at the top of our priority list made our selection process a little easier.  However we realize that for most people it is still a challenging process. So we wanted to share what our experience was with “safety first” as our benchmark, when together as a family, we took the next step, assisted living.

We selected a senior community with a secured entry.  We then looked for a setting that promoted autonomy, with an option of assistance in a variety of areas as “add-ons” so she could age in place versus having to move again.  Everything about this senior community was well planned in ensuring the environment would reduce her risk for falls and or injury as much as possible.   The apartment she selected was open and spacious with wide entries, low pile carpet (so if she needed to eventually use any type of assistive walking device it would not prohibit her mobility), low hung cabinetry, strategically located  call lights and best of all a shower that had a seamless entry and a built in bench. Sold!

Keeping up those standards with the move-in process became our next order of business.  Selecting furniture that didn’t take away from the wide halls or create an obstacle course was one of our goals.  A bathroom rug with a non-slip backing was purchased to reduce risk of her slipping on the tile outside the shower.  Lastly, arranging the room so it wasn’t overstuffed was the key. While we wanted to bring all the creature comforts of home to my mother’s new home, we knew making the right choices would be critical. We selected pieces that had meaning, but also could offer a multi-purpose function.  We made use of the walls by hanging her art & kept valued floor space free by using wall hung lighting too.  Next we kept it cozy by adding a window covering to the existing treatments, but we were careful to not have the curtain go all the way to the floor (which we know is a decorating no-no but a yes-yes for safety).

So at a time in life where people focus on loss, whether it is in their ability or health- we have found there are some things to be gained as well. My mother has a regained sense of security, she has made new friends, & she is moving forward in this next step.  

An excerpt from the Area Agency on Aging, Region One’s April Ombudsman Newsletter

“The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (formerly the National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform or NCCNHR) came out with a report; The High Cost of Poor Care:  The Financial Case for Prevention in American Nursing Homes.  The report summarizes studies showing the huge cost of treating preventable medical problems such as falls ($19 billion), pressure sores ($11 billion), and dehydration ($5 billion). 
An example of one study shows that falls are best prevented by exercise.  Simply introducing an exercise program could impact the 20-30 percent of nursing home falls that are preventable. 
The full article about the The High Cost of Poor Care can be found at the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care website:
www.theconsumervoice.org”