The common causes for falls include wet floor, dim lighting, rugs or carpets not being properly secured and rushing to toilet or storage areas, among others. Seniors mainly fall due to weak leg muscles, poor physical balance, dizziness or blackout
In the current COVID-19 scenario, most of us are bound to our homes to protect ourselves against the virus. Many, especially the elderly are paying heed to the Governments advice of not venturing outside unless there is a dire emergency. This is the need of the hour and is utmost respected. During the period of lockdown, we have noticed a new set of problems being faced by the elderly population. Seniors are facing fall at home causing orthopaedic injuries. Over the past three months of lockdown, we had 52 senior citizens coming to the emergency which warranted admission and surgery. This was more than the usual average when compared with pre-lockdown numbers.
Almost all senior citizens had domestic falls. It has become a public health problem and needs special attention. Domestic falls or falls in the house or familiar surroundings is entirely preventable. Western countries lay a lot of emphasis on these preventive strategies whereas these have not still been educated to the masses here in our country. India needs to formulate a preventive strategy for this public health problem. We believe in the proverb that a stitch in time saves nine
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to sharp focus some of the vulnerabilities of the elderly. Frailty, related to movement restriction, malnutrition and poor immunity, has surfaced as a major concern. The problem is compounded with sensory problems that can prevent them from taking adequate precautions. With advancing age, chronic illness and use of multiple medicines are common among them and that calls for increased healthcare need and physical support. Moreover, impaired cognitive abilities that worsen with age pose an extra challenge. All these vulnerabilities are associated with a high risk of falls and associated fractures. The common causes for falls include wet floor, dim lighting, rugs or carpets are not properly secured, rushing to toilet or storage areas, use of stairs among others. Seniors mainly fall due to weak leg muscles, poor physical balance, dizziness or light-headedness, blackout or loss of consciousness, memory loss, vision and hearing problems and fear of falling.
Prevention: First of all, seniors need to do a safety check of their home. It is better to clear the clutter from your floors or stairs including small furniture, pet bowls, trailing cables, or other things can cause you to trip. Secondly, you should avoid walking on slippery or wet floors. Securing carpets and loose flooring, as uneven surfaces can cause a trip hazard particularly on stairs, replacing your carpet with a bright-coloured one particularly if you have problems with your vision. Thirdly, lighting is important. Adequate lighting on stairways, corridors and hallways is necessary. Hence, avoid darkness with a lamp or light within easy reach of your bed and keep a torch by your bed. Putting night lights in the bathroom, hallways and bedroom are equally important. It is also important to have stable furniture. Fourthly, in case of balancing problem or dizziness, it always better to store frequently used items such as food containers, dishes and clothing within easy reach. Finally, we need to move around safely with proper support. A stick or frame that’s the wrong height can make your walking, balance and posture worse.
Seniors need to pay more attention to their bone health. Eat a healthy balanced diet rich in calcium. Dairy foods such as milk, yoghurt and cheese are good sources of calcium. It is advisable to avoid excessive amounts of caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee and fizzy drinks as they can prevent the body from absorbing calcium. Stop smoking and limit alcohol intake. Low impact weight-bearing and muscles-strengthening exercises help a lot. Vision, hearing, and feet need extra care.
The writer is Dr Rajeev Verma,Head of Department,Department of Joint Replacement & Orthopaedics