Falls in the home are the leading cause of injury and decreased quality of life among older adults.
One out of four Americans aged 65+ will experience a fall this year. Of these, one of every five falls will result in serious injury, such as damage to the brain, hip and wrist fracture. These injuries can greatly decrease quality of life and length of independent living. For the majority of older adults who do not experience any visible injury as a result of the fall, an equally challenging scenario occurs.
"Many people who fall, even if they’re not injured, become afraid of falling. This fear may cause a person to cut down on their everyday activities. When a person is less active, they become weaker and this increases their chances of falling." - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Three million older adults are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries each year. 300,000 of these older adults will be treated for a hip fracture. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling, usually by falling sideways. In 2015, total medical costs for falls totaled more than $50 billion.10 Medicare and Medicaid shouldered 75% of these costs (CDC).
Once an older adult experiences a fall, the chances that they will experience another fall is doubled.
Unfortunately, as reported by the CDC, only half of these falls are reported to a physician, caregiver or family member. Whether you are an older adult, caregiver, adult child, family member or friend of an older adult, there are many reasons to educate yourself on fall risks in the home.
"Because the natural aging process can affect vision, strength and balance, adults 65 and older are at elevated risk for falls, however falls are not a natural part of aging and can be prevented." -National Safety Council
While these are startling statistics, there are many things you can do to reduce fall risks and increase safety for yourself and your loved ones. Keeping a safe home is the most important factor in reducing fall risks and ensuring long-lasting independent living. We're going to look at some of the most frequent fall risks that can be easily eliminated and potentially save a life. There are some simple safety precautions that will help to ensure the best possible quality of life and extended independent living for older adults.
Falls in the Home
The National Council on Aging reports falls to be the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.
In 2002, as reported by the CDC, 1.6 million people over the age of 65 were treated in emergency departments of healthcare centers in America. The financial toll for older adult falls is expected to increase as the population ages and may reach $67.7 billion by 2020.
"Every second of every day in the United States an older adult falls, making falls the number one cause of injuries and deaths from injury among older Americans. In 2014 alone, older Americans experienced 29 million falls causing seven million injuries and costing an estimated $31 billion in annual Medicare costs, according to a new report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in this week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)."-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
As the average age of Americans increases, so do the risks for falls in the home, as the home is often where older adults spend the majority of their time. Over 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day, and as the average lifespan increases, so does the number of fall-related injuries and deaths.
However, you have the power to protect yourself and your loved ones from falls in the home. With a few simple steps and a checklist for precautions, we're going to review some of the most important tasks to safeguard your home or the home of a loved one.
Home Safety Checklist
Answer each of the following questions regarding risks in the home.
If you select "yes," be sure to take the steps we provide in order to minimize the risk of a fall.
In the few minutes it takes to clear a fall risk from the home, you can add years of independent living to your life as an older adult.
Home Safety: Floors
Do you have to walk around furniture or other items when walking through rooms?
No
Yes
Do you have decorative rugs on the floor?
No
Yes
Are there books, towels, boxes, blankets or other objects on the floor?
No
Yes
Are there wires or cords that you have to walk over on the floor (i.e. lamps, telephones, surge protectors)?
No
Yes
Home Safety: Stairs
Are there any belongings on inside or outdoor staircases that could cause you to trip and
experience a fall? (This includes stacks of paper, books, shoes, boxes and any other objects.)
No
Yes
Are there any structural problems, such as loose or uneven steps, on indoor or outdoor staircases?
No
Yes
Is there a light above each stairway in your home?
No
Yes
Do you have only one light switch for a stairway, either at the top or bottom of stairs?
Yes
No
Is there frayed carpet in any stairway of your home?
No
Yes
Are there any loose or broken handrails in the stairways of your home?
No
Yes
Home Safety: Kitchen
Are there any items that you use often on high shelves?
No
Yes
Do you have a sturdy step stool?
No
Yes
Home Safety: Bathrooms
Does every bathroom in your home have non-slip rubber mats in the tub or shower floor?
No
Yes
Do you experience any trouble while getting out of the tub or up from the toilet in your bathroom?
No
Yes
Home Safety: Bedrooms
Is there a light that is within reach of the bed in every room?
No
Yes
Is there a well-lit path from your bed to the bathroom?
No
Yes
Home Safety Tips
Consider each of the following actions you can take to safeguard your home. These tips can help you to prevent falls.
Exercise regularly. A few minutes each day of activity can help to improve balance and coordination, which will reduce your risk of falling.
"Simply adding the right exercises to your regular routine can make an enormous impact on your safety by strengthening the body, boosting blood flow to the lower extremities, improving neurological function and even helping to enhance your body’s proprioceptive powers" - health.USnews
See your primary care physician or a pharmacist you trust to review all of the medications you take. There are medications that can make you sleepy, dizzy or despondent. Be sure to know what medication affect your balance and take the proper steps to avoid falls.
"Older adults are more likely to have medical conditions that cause dizziness, especially a sense of imbalance. They're also more likely to take medications that can cause dizziness." - MayoClinic
Have your vision checked by an Optometrist at least once every year. Poor vision is a fall risk that can easily be eliminated.
"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third of adults ages 65 and older fall each year in the United States. People with vision loss are almost twice as likely to experience multiple falls as those with normal vision." - VisionAware
Avoid slippers and going barefoot, as this can increase fall risk. Wear shoes when you are both inside and outside of the home.
"Foot and ankle exercises, foot orthoses and particularly, wearing appropriate footwear are all key to preventing falls." - MyAgingParent.com
Make sure that the lighting in your home is bright in every room. Florescent bulbs are bright and more affordable than other options.
"The National Institute on Aging recommends that people with low vision change the type of lighting they use. Let us be a little more specific for you.
Older eyes need more light, especially for distinguishing fine details. The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) has found that people who are 65 and older need four times the amount of light that individuals who are 25 years old and younger." - PegasusLighting.com
Reduce the glare from all windows within your home. Be sure to hang lightweight curtains or install shades that will reduce any glare and minimize safety risks.
"Lighting that is too bright can create its own problems. Sunlight is often the culprit in this situation, but so can lamps that create a glare. A room that is too bright can prevent you from properly assessing hazards in the room, and bright lights may also trigger lightheadedness that leads to a loss of balance." - Aging.com
Consider decorative details that will enhance your vision and reduce fall risks.
"Paint a contrasting color on the top edge of all steps so you can see the stairs better. For example, use a light color paint on dark wood." - National Center for Disease Control
Other Safety Tips
Consider each of the following steps you can take to ensure your safety and improve your quality of life as an older adult.
Wear a medical alert device that will send help to you if you fall and can't get up.
MobileHelp is a company with 100% US-based Customer Care, Support and Emergency Monitoring. MobileHelp medical alert systems do not require a landline and keep you protected 24/7, at home and away. Click here to browse MobileHelp medical alert systems.
List your emergency contacts in large print and keep the sheet close to every phone in your home.
If an emergency were to arise, you want to be sure that whoever comes to help you is able to contact your family, doctors, caregivers, etc.
Falls are a serious concern for seniors. According to the CDC, one in four older adults fall each year – and falling once doubles the chance of falling again!
What’s more:
Seniors who are lucky enough to avoid the hospital still face serious consequences of falling. Many reduce their level of activity, in fear of another fall. However, this quickly leads to weakened muscles, and, in turn, actually increases the risk of falling.
However, as grim as these statistics may sound, it’s important to realize that falling is NOT an inevitable part of growing older. In fact, most falls can be prevented by thinking ahead, staying active, and
communicating with your healthcare providers.
Experts advise older adults to take four main steps to significantly reduce their risk of falling.
These steps may sound simple but they’re not necessarily easy.
For example, staying active can be tough for older adults who suffer from chronic pain, balance problems,
low energy or a fear of falling. Likewise, improving home safety sounds straightforward enough – until you realize you’re not sure what you’re looking for, or which modifications are really necessary for your situation.
Happily, there’s a valuable resource available that’s very effective in helping older adults reduce their risk of falling – physical therapy.
There are a few things seniors should know about footwear and falls.
There are a number of ways that wearing the wrong footwear can contribute to falling.
Slips, Trips, and Stumbles: Because many seniors’ reflexes are slowed due to age or medical conditions, they can’t always regain their balance in time if they start to slip, trip or stumble.
Painful Feet: Painful feet can alter the way older adults walk and affect their balance. It’s also hard to keep up an active lifestyle when walking hurts!
Poorly Fitting Shoes: Shoes that don’t fit well can cause pain and affect balance.
What is your shoe size? Are you sure? It might not be as straightforward as you think to find the right size shoe.
In fact, many studies show that nearly 3 in 4 adults over the age of 65 are wearing the wrong size shoe!
It’s important that seniors don’t rely on buying footwear based on what they think their size is. Each time an older adult shops for shoes, they should try them on to find the best fit.
Aside from the right size, look for these important elements when shopping for shoes or slippers for seniors.
The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) recommends the 1-2-3 Test when it comes to selecting new shoes for older adults.
Other tips for shoe shopping include:
Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 81 percent of bathroom injuries occur due to slips and falls in the shower or tub. Bathing - what was once a simple routine - can become difficult or even dangerous for the aging adult.
Walk-in tubs serve the same purpose as regular tubs but allow individuals with limited mobility to bathe more independently. Walk-in tubs are fundamental for seniors who wish to remain in their homes as they age. While still maintaining independence, older adults can safely experience a relaxing and therapeutic bath with walk-in tubs.
So, how does a walk-in tub work? Generally, walk-in tubs have a side door that you open to step into the tub easily. Standard tubs require lifting the leg and stepping over the bath wall – increasing the possibility of falling and injuring yourself. The walk-in tub door seals when it closes, making it watertight to prevent leakage.
Most walk-in tubs contain:
For a walk-in tub with a shower, you can choose to include an extendable showerhead. This option allows for a comfortable wash overhead while seated in the tub. Whirlpool and jacuzzi features are usually available for hydrotherapy.
Walk-in tubs come in many different shapes and sizes – and frequently have options to add on extra features, some of which we discussed above. When choosing a walk-in tub, you may want to compare your options to see which one meets your specific needs. Here are a few different types of walk-in tubs to choose from:
You can turn a traditional bathtub into a walk-in shower, but here are some crucial aspects to consider when doing so.
A walk-in tub conversion consists of turning your traditional bathtub into a walk-in shower. The company you choose to make the conversion will make the necessary modifications depending on your needs. For instance, if you would like to convert your traditional tub to a walk-in shower only, removing part of the bath wall to create a low threshold is required to accommodate walk-in access. However, if you would like to keep the traditional bathtub option in addition to the walk-in shower, then installing a sealable door on the tub wall is required. This door allows for walk-in access and a sealed traditional tub.
Please keep in mind that a complete conversion from a traditional bathtub to a walk-in tub is not ideal. As we discussed above, walk-in tubs generally have a built-in seat for comfort and safety. A traditional tub wall is just not high enough to accommodate a seat inside. If a standard walk-in tub is what you're looking for, your best bet would be to completely remove the traditional tub and replace it with a walk-in tub. We'll talk about costs and brands in the next section.
Before we get into the cost of walk-in tubs, let's first discuss the hefty hospital bill seniors may face after a fall. A trip to the hospital often costs $30,000 or more for a fall injury. Many seniors are on fixed incomes, and a $30,000 bill can add unpleasant financial stress to a physical injury. Because walk-in tubs are designed to eliminate bathing hazards, you may already be thinking just how worth it walk-in tubs really are.
The average cost of a walk-in tub with installation can range anywhere from $2000 - $20,000. As with anything else, the brand and added features can tack on higher costs. While these prices may seem alarming, keep in mind that it's still less expensive than a fall-related hospital bill.
Now that we have discussed walk-in tubs and their overall costs, let's talk about a few household brand names with quality tubs for seniors and excellent customer satisfaction.
Kohler
With over 140 years of engineering expertise, Kohler tubs are designed to give you a truly spa-like experience. They are manufactured in the United States with a variety of added features to choose from. The Kohler walk-in bath offers an ultra-low 3" step-in and is equipped with fast-drain technology to minimize waiting time.
For more information, visit: https://www.kohlerwalkinbath.com/.
American Standard
American Standard walk-in tubs are known to include safety and functionality benefits, such as one-touch hydrotherapy jets and a spacious bathtub with a low threshold. They provide lifetime warranties on their door seals and free installation estimates.
For more information, visit: americanstandardwalkinbaths.com.
Get an added layer of protection for seniors living independently by pairing a walk-in tub with a medical alert device. These devices come with numerous options but nonetheless provide peace of mind knowing that help is on the way immediately after pressing the medical alert button.
The MY Alert Classic is an in-home base unit that comes with a waterproof help button. Or, for maximum protection, get the Waterproof Wall Button that you can easily attach to any flat surface, including your walk-in tub. Summon emergency help when needed, even in the bathroom where most fall injuries occur.
References:
https://www.seniorliving.org/walk-in-tubs/ https://www.bathplanet.com/baths/walk-in-tub/ https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/health/research/16stats.html https://www.renewitrefinishing.com/walk-in-tub.php
Throughout the pandemic, online shopping has become increasingly popular. We shop online for convenience and safety from COVID-19. But what some people don't realize is that the internet may not be as safe as we think. There is a shocking amount of information about you on the web, making it easier for your personal information to be compromised.
Furthermore, your personal information is at risk even over the phone, especially for seniors. The vulnerability of this highly sensitive data is why protecting your identity is essential.
Read along to learn more about personally identifiable information (PPI), how to protect yourself, and three of the best identity theft protection companies for seniors.
Personally identifiable information (PII) is any data that can be used to identify a particular individual, such as:
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European data privacy law that requires organizations to keep sensitive information safe, including companies outside of the European Union. While this new law grants people more rights regarding how businesses handle their PII, it is still important to personally take charge of your identity protection.
Personally identifiable information (PII) is any data that can be used to identify a particular individual, such as:
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European data privacy law that requires organizations to keep sensitive information safe, including companies outside of the European Union. While this new law grants people more rights regarding how businesses handle their PII, it is still important to personally take charge of your identity protection.
It is essential that seniors first know how to recognize and protect themselves from phone scams to further understand online fraudulence. Three of the most common telemarketing schemes include:
It is essential that seniors first know how to recognize and protect themselves from phone scams to further understand online fraudulence. Three of the most common telemarketing schemes include:
Legitimate bill collectors will never threaten to arrest you for unpaid debt. So don't worry, no one is coming for you. Here are some other things to remember to protect yourself from phone scams:
According to the AARP, over one in four adults over the age of 55 have experienced identity theft.
Typically, once you share your information with anyone (retailers, medical facilities, employers, etc.), it is readily available for fraudsters to steal. So how can you protect yourself against identity theft? There are many identity theft protection companies to help you keep your identity safe. Before we get into those, here are three primary protection services these companies offer:
Now that you are more familiar with the three leading services most protection firms have to offer, here are three of the best identity theft protection companies for seniors.
Known for its award-winning and customer satisfaction ratings, Identity Guard provides identity theft protection using IBM's Watson computer system to scan the dark web. This artificial intelligence monitors millions of articles and social media posts daily to detect threats. There are three tiers designed for individual consumers and three levels for family plans. Upper-tier family plans include monitoring for potential cyberbullying for kids. Identity Guard also offers safe browsing tools to protect your sensitive data while shopping, banking, or paying bills online.
One of the top three reporting credit bureaus, Experian now offers comprehensive identity theft protection for individuals of all ages. Experian IdentityWorks has two levels of identity theft protection that include family plans. Members are also able to lock and unlock their Experian reports to prevent fraud.
The million-dollar protection package offers three different plans that provide a comprehensive suite of security tools. Partnered with Norton 360, LifeLock provides computer and device protection that provides propriety alerts, 24/7 customer support, and a two-month money-back guarantee on annual plans.
Most older adults have good credit, assets (houses, cars, etc.), and a robust savings account. It is no wonder why this population is at significant risk for identity theft. If you or your senior loved one suspect's identity theft and are not secured by an identity theft protection firm, please call the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877- 438- 4338 or visit online at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft.
You may tend to get overwhelmed when shopping for a protection plan. Take your time figuring out what is best for you, and keep an eye out for the best deals to save money. Also, make sure that the company that you choose offers all three services listed above. Take control of your identity and sleep better at night knowing you are protected.
https://www.identityforce.com/blog/identity-theft-odds-identity-theft-statistics
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2020/identity-fraud-survey.html
https://www.seniorliving.org/identity-theft-protection/best/
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/comparing-identity-theft-protection-services
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/do-you-need-identity-theft-protection/
For much of the continental U.S., winter is a lot like taxes – one of the harsher realities of life. With its icy walkways, shoveling requirements and plunging temperatures, it also represents one of the more dangerous times of the year for older adults.
Jim Miller, editor of Savvy Senior, recently shared some valuable home and auto safety tips seniors can use to stay safe as the thermometer mercury plummets:
Home heating safety: More home fires happen during the winter months than any other time of the year, mainly due to home heating devices. In addition, heating devices and household appliances that are fueled by gas, oil, kerosene or wood in a closed-up house can produce deadly carbon monoxide gas.
Some simple things seniors can do to protect themselves are:
Winter auto safety: To ensure wintertime driving safety — if you live in a cold climate — have your vehicle serviced and winterized so it’s ready for winter driving and winter road conditions.
Some specific items to be checked are:
Preventing wintertime falls: A common problem among the elderly are slips and falls which result in injury, which tend to happen more frequently in winter due to wet and slippery conditions. To help prevent wintertime falls, seniors should:
But if you’re an active senior, and wintertime slips and falls are a concern, you may also want to investigate getting a medical alert system that allows you to access help even when outside and away from your home, to ensure if a fall occurs, you have access to help immediately.
With just a couple preventive measures, winter can be more about the wonder and less about the danger.
Physical Activity Is Essential To Healthy Aging
According to the CDC, only 35-44% of adults over the age of 75 are physically active. This means that over roughly 21 million older adults are not getting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity and two days of muscle-strengthening activity each week.
According to the Stroke Network, a major reason for lack of exercise in older adults is due to a fear of falling, especially if they have fallen before. With the fear of falling, exercise is frequently limited in response, which then in turn increases the risk of a fall. The fear and risk of falling then become a cycle.
MY Alert offers a solution to help break that cycle: its Solo medical alert system works both in the home and away from the home on the AT&T Cellular Network, so no landline is required. The system can be used across the country while traveling, while out golfing, walking, or even in the home. The system utilizes GPS, so operators can send help right to the user with the push of a button.
MobileHelp Solo is also compatible with the company’s Fall Button, an automatic fall detection pendant. This pendant provides extra protection by automatically sending an alarm if the user falls and is unable to push their button.
The security this device provides gives users the freedom to live a more active lifestyle.
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