Why Fall Prevention is Important

Working as an elderly care advocate and support, we have had a lot of opportunities to speak about the topic falls prevention with our enlisted clients at Rehoboth centre for elderly care. And as a result, we have been able to confirm that fall is a huge problem faced by elders especially.

Thus, we saw the need to create more awareness on the subject in order to contribute our quota to educate more people on the need to prevent falls especially for elders which will have an exponential effect in decreasing elderly related injuries. It is a known and established fact that Falls are a leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for the elderly and not all fall cases are reported to the hospital.

Falls can cause serious injuries such as head injuries, fractures and even death.

Managing and caring for an elderly who has experienced fall can be expensive; it can also affect the quality of life of both the elders and their families, limiting their activities and social engagement.

Most elders who have fallen once develop a fear of falling the second time, thus, resulting in further physical decline, depression, social isolation, and feelings of helplessness.

A fall of an elderly client results in serious burden even on their caregivers.

It is evident that the need to prevent elderly fall is pertinent, and must be taken seriously by all stakeholders (Squad) in the subject matter. It takes a village to prevent fall especially for seniors. Fall prevention is a team effort everyone has a role to play.

These stakeholders (Fall Prevention Squad) include;

• The Elders (choices they make e.g. choice of footwear, compliance to instruction etc.
• Family and Friends
• Pharmacist (counselling about medications side effects)
• Physiotherapists and physical trainers (can help to improve balance strength and mobility, they can also help to identify physical activities that can be done to prevent fall.
• Elderly Care Centre (like RCEC) can help with emotional, behavioural, social, recreational support.
• Other organisations like banks, hospitals, restaurants etc. sThese organisations can contribute by making their facilities elderly friendly by making less slippery floors, providing rail bars for walk ways and halls, and accessibility for wheel chairs and walkers to help prevent falls.

Understanding why fall prevention is important will help all members of the fall prevention squad (stakeholders) contribute their quota effectively.

See our article on COMMON RISK FACTORS THAT RESULT IN FALL ….

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