Fall Prevention

By Jean Wyman, Ph.D.

As Minnesotans gear up for winter, and ice and snow makes it way into the weather forecast, many families may begin to worry about their older relatives navigating slippery sidewalks. Research has shown that approximately 34 percent of people age 65 years and older fall each year. The statistics only get worse as people get older. Falls cost older adults their health and independence and can lead to expensive hospitalizations. In some cases, a particularly bad fall may even hasten death.

Indeed, fall prevention in older adults is a concern no matter what the season. As people age, their strength, balance, coordination, and eyesight may decline. Medications can make the elderly more susceptible to dizziness, and the bones become more brittle, especially for those who have osteoporosis. Healing broken bones takes longer in elderly patients, therefore prevention is key.

So what can older adults and their families do?

First, make sure the home is as safe as possible by installing sufficient lighting, especially near stairs, and check to see that carpets are firmly fixed to the floor. Use the handrails when climbing stairs, and consider installing grab bars in bathrooms for added stability. Keep pathways clear of obstacles so you are less likely to trip, and take your time when standing up to make sure you have your balance.

Talk with your health care providers about ways to prevent falls. They will help you review medications that could contribute to dizziness or loss of balance. Make sure to get regular vision and hearing tests, as even small changes can make a difference in navigating successfully around obstacles.

Finally, consider talking with a health professional about exercise. Improving strength, balance, and coordination can go a long way in preventing falls. At the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, I led a research project examining fall prevention among elderly women that included an exercise program. We studied how a simple exercise program improved the balance and strength of older women. Women in our study also received fall prevention education, a home safety inspection, and counseling on risk factors.

The home exercise program involved walking 30 minutes, five days per week, along with a set of balance exercises twice per week. Women in the study were supported with telephone calls to help encourage them to stick with the behavior change, which is often the biggest obstacle in making exercise a daily habit. Preliminary results show that exercise works. Falls were reduced by 37 percent over a two-year period in the group who received the fall prevention program as compared to those who received a general health education program. There were half as many fractures in the fall prevention program group.

These results are encouraging, and we are continuing to evaluate ways to prevent older adults from falling. But there is more work to do. In Minnesota, the rate of falls is increasing faster than in the rest of the country. Over the holiday season, take time to talk to your older family members about their risk factors for falling, and what you and their health care providers can do to keep them safe and healthy.

Jean Wyman, Ph.D., APRN, BC, CNP, FAAN, is a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. She is a member of the school's Center for Gerontological Nursing and was recently named director of the Minnesota Hartford Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence.

Health Talk & You is an educational service of the University of Minnesota. Advice presented should not take the place of an examination by a health-care professional. For more health-related information, go to http://www.healthtalk.umn.edu/. For comments or questions about Health Talk & You e-mail buss@umn.edu.