Fall Prevention with Active Home Health
Having a fall drastically changes a person’s life. Utilizing home health for fall prevention can help reduce complications and minimize their risk of future falls.
Did you know that according to the CDC, 1 in 4 older Americans fall each year? At the current rate of falls, these falls will cause 7 deaths an hour by the year 2030. While falls do occur more often in the elderly, they are not considered an inevitable consequence of aging. Active Home Health has a fall prevention program focused on restoring your active lifestyle. The question you need to ask yourself is how will this program help me?
What puts you at Risk for a Fall?
It is important to understand the causes and risk factors for falls to be able to prevent them. The World Health Organization has grouped the risk factors into three main categories. These are Behavioral, Biological, and Environmental risk factors.
Biological risk factors are determined by characteristics of the human body. The most common types of biological risk factors are:
- Lack of balance while walking
- Musculoskeletal degradation
- Age
- Cognitive impairment
- Chronic diseases, like osteoporosis, stroke, dementia, arthritis and dementia
- Dizziness and vertigo
Behavioral risk factors are factors that are influenced by an individual’s actions, emotions, or daily choices. These include:
- Medications
- Fear of falling, before or after a fall
- Inactivity
- Alcohol use
Environmental risk factors are caused by interactions between the person and the surrounding environment. Some of the most common risk factors are:
- Unsafe home environments
- Improper size, type, or use of assistive devices
- Poorly designed spaces
What are the Consequences of a Fall?
Hip and other bone fractures are the number one consequence of a fall in the elderly. In fact, over 95% of all hip fractures are due to having a fall. Bruises, cuts, and head injuries are also very common.
But did you know that the consequences of having a fall go beyond those immediate physical symptoms? Most people are overly cautious about having another fall. And rightfully so. Having a fall can increase your inactivity and reduces muscle mass and strength. Having a fall doubles the risk of having another.
Another non-apparent consequence of a fall is functional decline. Studies have shown that only about 20% of elderly adults will fully regain pre-fall functionality. Falls can inhibit your ability to maintain your independence and ability to perform daily activities.
Is Active Home Health’s Fall Reduction Program Right for You?
Just because you haven’t had a fall doesn’t mean that you are not at risk. Do you struggle to stand up? Do you feel weak when walking? Have you felt dizzier lately? Is your vision getting worse? Do you have trouble with your surroundings or objects in your path? Are you worried about a having a fall?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions or have recently had a fall, Active Home Health’s nurses and therapists are here to help. Our fall prevention program focuses on 6 main priorities:
- Observation and Evaluation: Our team will do a thorough evaluation of risk factors, identifying any risk factors. This will help you understand what puts you at risk of having a fall.
- Prevention: After risks have been identified, our team, along with your provider and family, will work at eliminating and modifying any possible risk factors. The goal? To avoid any preventable falls.
- Education: Our team will work with you to learn healthy self-care with such measures as strengthening bones and addressing your fears of falling.
- Finance: Our goal is to help you and your loved ones avoid any expensive hospitalizations or surgeries.
- Practice: There is no better place to put into practice what you have learned than in your home. Under the supervision of our team, you can remain safely in your home, maintaining as much independence as possible.
- Purpose: There is nothing worse than living in fear because of a fall. The purpose of our program is to improve your quality of life.
Some of the benefits of using Active Home Health’s Fall Prevention Program include:
- Personalized strength and balance program
- Medication reconciliation
- Home safety evaluation
- Fall prevention education
- Maintain independence
- Prevent first or subsequent falls
- Maintain or improve quality of life
Why Choose Active Home Health?
Having a fall drastically changes a person’s life. Returning home can be challenging. Active Home Health understands what puts a person at risk for falls. Our team is here to help you recover from a fall. We can also prevent falls before they happen. If you or a loved one are worried about either falling or the consequences from a fall, give us a call today.
