Top 9 Causes of Falls in the Elderly and How to Manage Them

Here are 9 things that may mean your loved one is more at risk of falls, and what you can do to help them:

1. Weak muscles

   Muscles gradually weaken as we get older – this is simply a natural part of the ageing process. To help strengthen your loved one's muscles, you can encourage them to keep active, such as going for regular walks, or to do strength and balance training at home.

   
   

2. Medication

   Some medications have side effects, such as dizziness, light-headedness or drowsiness (to name a few). As a result, this can affect your loved one's balance. In addition, taking 4 or more medications at a time can also increase the risk of falls. Speak to your loved one's doctor if you're concerned that their medication is affecting their balance.

   
   

3. Problems with their feet

   Foot conditions, such as bunions, ingrown toenails and corns can be incredibly uncomfortable for your loved one. The pain may make them unsteady on their feet or could reduce their inclination to stay physically active. If you think your loved one is struggling with their feet, speak to them and get them help if required.

   
   

4. Ill-fitting footwear

   It could be as simple as your loved one wearing inappropriate footwear. Thankfully, this is relatively easy to solve – ensure they're wearing shoes that not only fit correctly but that have good grip, to reduce the risk of them slipping or tripping over.

   
   

5. Certain health conditions

   If your loved one has Parkinson's disease, postural hypotension (sudden drop in blood pressure when changing position) or a condition that affects their mobility or consciousness, they are likely to be more at risk of falls. Speak to their doctor about how you can reduce the risk and look at making their home as safe as possible, in case they do fall.

   
   

6. Visions and hearing problems

   If your loved one struggles with their hearing or their vision, this can mean they are also more at risk of falls. Ensure your loved one has regular hearing and vision check-ups to help reduce this being a risk for them.

   
   

7. Memory loss, confusion and disorientation

   If your loved one is living with dementia, for example, their ability to judge situations and their overall perception of what we would see as hazards will diminish. Ensure their home environment is as safe and free from potential hazards as much as possible.

   
   

8. Dehydration

   Your loved one may be at risk of becoming dehydrated and thus more likely to fall – this could be due to medication they're taking or simply because they no longer feel thirsty, which is part of the natural ageing process. Ensure your loved one is consuming enough fluids throughout the day to reduce the risk of them becoming dehydrated.

   
   

9. Bladder and bowel conditions

   If your loved one needs to rush to the toilet due to a bowel or bladder condition, especially at night, they may be at risk of tripping or becoming unsteady. Ensure there are night lights and a clear pathway in between their commonly used rooms and the bathroom.

We hope these tips give you some practical advice that will help you to help your loved one...

But as they age, you may grow more and more concerned about the risk of them falling when they’re home alone.

So, why not also check out our article that includes 8 ways you can reduce the risk of falls around the home, to help keep your loved one safe.

Posted on: 26/07/2021

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