Preventing Falls in Older Adults: The Importance of Home Safety

Highlights

• Falls are a significant health concern for older adults, leading to injuries, hospitalization, and even death
• Hazards in and around the home, such as clutter, stairs without railings, and poor lighting, increase the risk of falls among older people
• Hazards reduction measures have the biggest effect (38% fewer falls) for people who are at a higher risk of falls

A recent Cochrane review has shown that eliminating common hazards in the home can reduce the risk of falls for older people by up to a quarter. According to the review, reducing hazards, such as clutter, stairs without railings, and poor lighting, is the most effective method for preventing falls, with no compelling evidence found for other measures such as correct prescription glasses, special footwear, or education on avoiding falls (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Environmental interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community

Go to source). Falls are a significant health concern for older adults, defined as individuals aged 65 and older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths and nonfatal injuries among older adults in the United States. In 2019, an estimated 39.7 million falls resulting in 3 million emergency department visits and over 36,000 deaths occurred among older adults in the U.S. alone (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Facts About Falls

Go to source).

Falls can cause severe injuries such as hip fractures,, and lacerations, which can significantly affect an individual's quality of life and independenc traumatic brain injuriese. Multiple factors such as chronic health conditions, medication use, and environmental hazards increase the risk of falls in older adults. However, falls are preventable through lifestyle modifications, exercise, and home modifications to reduce environmental hazards.

This is a review of randomized control trails. This kinds of studies are highly valued and have high acceptance rate in the scientific community. The study analyzed data from 22 previous studies involving 8,463 older individuals living in the community. The authors found that reducing fall hazards around the home resulted in a 26% reduction in the overall rate of falls.

This was achieved through assessing fall hazards in and around the home and offering recommendations for reducing risk, such as removing clutter and adding handrails and non-slip strips to steps. This method was found to be particularly effective for those who are at a higher risk of falls, resulting in a 38% reduction in falls (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community

Go to source).

Lead author of the review, Lindy Clemson, Professor Emeritus at the University of Sydney, stressed the importance of preventing falls among older people, stating that falls are common and often result in serious injury or death, but are also preventable. She also noted that certain markers, such as having had a previous fall or needing help with everyday activities, indicate underlying risk factors such as unsteadiness or weak muscles, which can make navigating the environment more challenging and increase the risk of a fall.

Professor Clemson emphasized the need for professional support, such as from an occupational therapist, for those at risk of falls, stating that interventions to reduce fall hazards around the home require more than just a simple checklist of things to tick off. While everyone can take care to reduce fall hazards, she notes that people often do not notice clutter or realize that certain activities, such as climbing ladders, can be risky for those with reduced mobility or balance.

Preventing Falls: How to Make Your Home Safe for Older Adults

While the review found that reducing hazards around the home was effective in preventing falls, there was not enough data to determine if this led to fewer hospital admissions due to falls. In summary, while the Cochrane review provides important insights into the effectiveness of environmental interventions in reducing falls in older people living in the community, there are several areas for improvement in future research, such as including non-randomized studies, evaluating cost-effectiveness, examining the effectiveness of comprehensive fall prevention strategies, and exploring the potential of technology-based interventions.

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Future research should examine the effectiveness of combining environmental interventions with other approaches such as medication management, vision screening, and education to develop a comprehensive fall prevention strategy.

In conclusion, Professor Clemson emphasized the importance of preventing falls as a way of helping older people remain healthy and independent, and encouraged people to reduce fall hazards in and around their homes.

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References

1. Environmental interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community - (https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013258.pub2/full)
2. Facts About Falls - (https://www.cdc.gov/falls/facts.html)
3. Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community - (https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007146.pub3/full)

Source-Medindia