Minimizing senior fall risks

By Dr. Rajesh Agarwal, Medical Director; The Laurels of Chagrin Falls

Most seniors are afraid of falling, and for good reason. According to the CDC, accidental falls are the leading cause of death in the elderly. They account for one-fourth of all hospital admissions and nearly half of all nursing home admissions.

A fall often causes fractures to the arm, hand, ankle, spine, pelvis and hip, with the hip being among the most devastating, as one in five hip fracture patients will pass away within a year. The good news is falls can be prevented.

Many seniors today are overmedicated, taking different pills from different doctors that might cause drowsiness or disorientation. At The Laurels of Chagrin Falls, we perform medical assessments to determine which medications each patient is taking and try to reduce that number when possible.

Another cause of falls is that seniors often don’t drink enough water and end up dehydrated and weakened.

It’s also important to address a person’s living environment. We have occupational therapists on staff who do risk assessments.

They go through a patient’s home looking for potentially dangerous issues, and are able to recommend things like grab bars in a shower or other adaptive devices.

Seniors should wear sensible shoes that provide good balance, getting rid of older, worn shoes.

And keep moving. Don’t allow yourself to become sedentary just because you’re afraid of falling. Physical activity helps with balance, coordination and provides many other health and wellness benefits.

The Laurels of Chagrin Falls is located at 150 Cleveland Street in Chagrin Falls. The 82-bed facility offers rehabilitative care, short-term and long-term skilled nursing, respite care, outpatient therapy and hospice services. For more information, call 440-247-4200 or visit LaurelsOfChagrinFalls.com.