Falls can cause major harm to your health, including head trauma, fractures or other injuries – even death. It’s a serious health problem, especially among the senior population.
“One out of three older adults (those aged 65 or older) falls each year, but less than half talk to their healthcare providers about it. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries,” according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
At Empath Health, we’re committed to the safety of our patients. One area focusing on fall prevention is our Suncoast Hospice Care Centers. Our care center teams do safety assessments on the risk of falls with patients. Some of the things they look at are age; signs of visual, cognitive, mobility and other medical impairments; medications; and any potential environmental hazards. They also provide several types of interventions to prevent falls.
“In our care centers, we watch for and adjust anything that might become a hazard including tubing, visiting pets, tables and other equipment,” explained Lori Butler, RN, a Suncoast Hospice interdisciplinary clinical mentor who serves on our fall prevention committee.
She also shared, “At home, people should look for throw rugs, furniture, piles of clothing, papers and other clutter, and uneven floor boards or stairs. There are many other things in the home that can cause falls.”
If you’re caring for an older loved one, please be alert to any health issues or hazards that may cause falls. If your loved one does fall, please seek medical attention right away.
You can reach us anytime for more info about our services at 727-467-7423.