Many falls are preventable! Understanding the four common risks of falls is vital for everyone. Knowledge of falls prevention and how they may affect a person’s level of engagement in daily activities, socialisation, and lifestyle is paramount for individuals with balance disorders.
Four Risk Factors of Falls
Some risk factors are unavoidable – including age and gender. To limit your falls risk follow the four tips:
1. Unsafe Environments
Conditions that may increase the risk of a fall include dim or gallery lighting, no handrails on stairs, no grab bars inside and outside the toilet/ shower, and throw rugs or carpet edges.
2. Visual health
The quality of vision can significantly challenge an individual with a risk of falling. Such that altered visual contrast, sensitivity, and depth perception are essential qualities that can be impaired, increasing the fall risk.
3. Prescription drugs
Often, polypharmacy places an older adult at higher risk for falling. For example, more than four prescribed medications can increase the risk. Ask the pharmacist or doctor to review all medicines routinely and use a large font for the drug label. Make sure your patient understands what the instructions mean.
4. Balance health
Some individuals can be impaired in their ability to simultaneously walk and perform a cognitive task. They can also be disturbed in their capacity to stabilise their eyes with body movement. A thorough vestibular and balance evaluation is imperative for such individuals.
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