Health Status and Elderly Falls Prevention

Exercise, Nutrition, Foot Care and Managing Medication

Sep 3, 2009

If elderly people can remain physically active, stay well nourished, take care of foot problems and manage their medication, it can help prevent them having falls.

As people age, they may experience joint stiffness, muscle weakness, loss of tissue suppleness, reduced sensation, and slowed reflexes. Falls may be triggered by things like faulty posture, loss of heel strike, loss of gait rhythm and loss of balance. Taking steps to improve and maintain health and general well being is an important aspect of falls prevention for elderly people.

Elderly Falls Prevention and Exercise

Elderly people should try to get regular exercise and remain physically active, as it helps them to maintain muscle and bone strength, improve balance and gait, and retain mobility and endurance. Lack of exercise leads to an accelerated loss of bone strength and makes a fracture more likely in the event of a fall.

Going for walks regularly is an effective form of exercise. Light gardening and housework are also great ways for elderly people to stay physically active. Organised weekly group exercise sessions such keep fit classes, dancing and Tai Chi, led by instructors who are trained in safe exercise for older people, are also good forms of exercise.

Good Nutrition Helps to Prevent Falls in the Elderly

Elderly people should be getting good nutrition in the form of three meals a day, including a variety of fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat, chicken or fish several times a week and plenty of water. Poor nutrition can lead to anaemia in elderly people, which causes muscle weakness, lethargy and dizziness and increases the risk of a fall.

Calcium and vitamin D are particularly important for maintaining strong bones. Good sources of calcium include dairy products and green leafy vegetables, while vitamin D occurs in cod liver oil and oily fish such as salmon and mackerel. Vitamin D is also manufactured by the body when a person is exposed to natural sunlight. It may be necessary to seek advice from a dietician, doctor or pharmacist about supplementation of calcium and vitamin D if levels are likely to be low.

It is important that elderly people are able to shop for themselves and obtain food supplies; if not it may be necessary for them to get someone else to do their shopping for them and prepare their food if need be. Any gum or teeth problems that may interfere with eating should be addressed by a dentist.

Foot Health Care and Falls Prevention

Maintaining good foot health helps to prevent foot problems that may hinder an elderly person’s mobility and ability to walk. Elderly people need to be able to see and reach their feet properly so they can cut their toenails and take care of foot problems such as dry, hard skin and corns. They also need to make sure they are wearing well-fitting shoes so as to avoid foot discomfort. Regular foot-care check-ups with a podiatrist may be necessary.

Foot health is of particular concern for elderly people with conditions such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. Diabetes can cause neuropathy, and reduced sensation in the feet may mean an elderly person does not realise if he or she steps on something or has poorly fitting shoes. Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to deformities of the feet, for which appropriate footwear should be chosen.

Medication and the Risk of Falls

Elderly people are more susceptible to adverse drug reactions, and any medications they are on can increase the risk of them having a fall. For example, diuretics, beta blockers, and antidepressants can cause low blood pressure, while analgesics, psychotropics, and anti-Parkinson’s medication can cause impaired balance or dizziness. It is important that people know the potential side effects and interactions between medications they are taking and that these are monitored by a doctor.

Older people may need help with managing their medications and remembering to take them regularly, especially if they are taking more than one type of medication. A pill organiser may be helpful.

The risk of falls is greater in elderly people who do not take care of their health. Taking action to make older people's homes safer, including stair safety, is also important for elderly falls prevention.

The copyright of the article Health Status and Elderly Falls Prevention in Seniors' Health/Medicare is owned by Sharon Kirby. Permission to republish Health Status and Elderly Falls Prevention in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.