MedicalNurseTraining.com

Fall Prevention and Balance Training For Seniors
By Dr. David Thornton

Falls account for 65% of all injuries among seniors. Even in community assisted facilities, 30% of these seniors experience at least one fall per year. 40% of the falls resulting in hospital stays are attributable to hip fractures. With an estimated cost of $2.4 billion annually to treat injuries to seniors, injuries due to falls represent 41% of this cost to our health care system.

Clearly, these statistics represent a dire need for fall prevention screening and ADL (activities of daily living) instruction for the prevention and/or reduction of falls experienced by our seniors.

Fall prevention screening involves evaluation techniques which are utilized to identify factors such as decreases in flexibility, strength, endurance, and coordination. Unfortunately, with age, people tend to become less active and more sedentary. This begins a slow process of diminished conditioning, which mostly goes unnoticed as typical daily demands fail to identify deficiencies. Most people chalk-up diminished conditioning as a rite of passage and fail to appreciate that conditioning occurs by the stresses and demands that are placed upon the body. Normal stresses and demands promote positive healthy conditioning. Abnormal stresses and demands, including inadequate activities, promote negative conditioning.

Balance training involves precise exercise activities which facilitate an increase in flexibility, strength, endurance, and coordination. Unfortunately, mainstream health care tends to look at balance training as a rehabilitative program for injury treatment, rather than as a preventative strategy. This is understandable due to the fact that prevention screenings are not even considered as a standard of care for seniors. However, in light of the statistical facts, it should be agreed that this view is no longer acceptable considering our wealth of knowledge and technical capabilities.

Prevention can be so easily accomplished from a vast array of balance training exercises ranging from the low tech (low expense) to the high tech (high expense). Simple activities such as standing on 1 leg or with eyes closed are examples of low tech. Expensive vibration platforms are examples of high tech. Wobble boards, gait training activities, and other surface changing devices or techniques are examples of mid range technologies.

The key is to start with proper evaluation and assessment, followed by “qualified” doctor supervision. A qualified doctor is not simply any licensed health care professional. Doctors should be knowledgeable and experienced with fall prevention evaluation and balance training with a significant percentage of their practices addressing this specifically.

Dr. David Thornton D.C. is a Health & Wellness Consultant providing a variety of quality health care services throughout Arlington and metro DFW, including Chiropractic Care for those who need it.

He specializes in a multi-faceted approach to the human body and the various daily factors effecting individual Degrees of Wellness.

He, also, specializes in the soft tissue repair and remodeling for damage induced by aging, deconditioning, illness, injury, and the stresses of daily living.

http://drdavidthornton.com

http://fitness.drdavidthornton.com

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SaferFalls.com has partnered with the leading manufacturers of fall prevention products for seniors and older adults to provide these life saving devices at wholesale prices. These are state of the art fall protection devices from the leading providers. This division of Medical Nurse Training Inc. was created to help educate and reduce injury and deaths associated with falls.

Many doctors and nurses have requested during our training programs, “where can we obtain this valuable fall protection equipment for friends, family members and patients at a reasonable price.” Finally that has been accomplished to reduce slip and fall injuries at home and in assisted living environments. Additonally, SaferFalls provides education to reduce the potential for these devastating falls.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that over 60% of fatal falls occur in the home. Additionally the total cost of falls in 2010 is expected to be between 68 and 100 Billion Dollars. More than 25,000 older adults died due to falls last year. Katharine Graham, former Washington Post Chairman died as a result of a fall. Most of this cost and loss of life is completely preventable through new fall prevention, fall protection products and safer falls education. Many of these medically significant events include hip fracture, head injury, fear of falling again, broken vertebrae and broken wrist.

Over 44 million baby boomers live at home with an elderly sick parent according to The Caring Alliance. Another 25 million at risk elderly live alone and unprotected from devastating falls. The current economic conditions have exacerbated these numbers. Since life expectancy has continued to increase this situation is likely to become even more prevalent. The faller may need to move in with adult children and adult children often have to take time off work to care for at risk parents. The costs emotionally and physically to the person who falls and their families is enormous.

Much of this information is virtually unknown to the general public. Annually there are approximately 370,000 hip fractures. Head injuries from falls at home are another significant medical cost. Falls are the major cause of 40% of nursing home admissions and subsequent costs to families. Per year, of those admitted to a hospital only about
50 % will survive a serious fall. Falls are the leading cause of accidental death and more than 33% of adults 65 and older fall each year. Reductions in healthcare costs is a current concern of all in the government and the effect of falls are major cost factor.

Anyone who is above the age of 55 or has a relative, who is at risk for falls, is confused or agitated, has Alzheimer’s, or presents departure/elopement risk at home will be very interested in this new material. This information will be invaluable to seniors and their families. To see fall prevention training and fall protection devices for home, concerned individuals and families may go directly to www.SaferFalls.com for senior fall prevention.

Some of these devices include Hip Protectors, Fall and Exit Alarms, high impact Fall and Floor Cushions, Fall and Lift Furniture, Bed Safety Guards, Personal Pagers, high impact Bath Mats, Fall Management Socks and Shower Slippers.

Hip Protectors – High Impact – absorbing pads that help protect hip bones against injury from falls. About 320,000 people suffer a hip fracture every year. These pads are built into brief’s, panties, sweat pants and sweat shorts. They can easily be laundered and re-used numerous times to help protect from falls. The use of these devices has been clinically proven to reduce injury. Many individuals that experience a fall are afraid to continue normal activities like walking. These devices help these people resume a normal life. Hip Fracture is one of the number one causes of death in older individuals. Our experience shows that hip protectors are generally not known by the general public

Fall Alarms – Inexpensive bed and chair exit electronic monitors otherwise known as Fall Alarms, assist with the observation of patients and family members to help reduce falls and the potential for elopement from home or a facility. A variety of sensor accessories may be used including toileting sensors, bed/chair sensors, infrared sensors and self releasing sensors may be attached to the monitor to reduce risk. These alarms include a gentle voice reminder not to get up without assistance. Many of these devices are unknown to the general public. Pendants to call caregivers when help is needed are also very useful.

Floor Cushions and Bath Mats – Certain areas of the home are very high risk for injury from falls like the bathroom. Special floor cushions and bath mats are designed to help reduce the impact from a fall and are frequently talked about in the clinical literature. These floor cushions are tri-fold in design, making them convenient to carry to areas requiring the most immediate protection. Bathrooms are also very high risk zones. The sure step bath mat can be used to significantly reduce the impact of a fall. The mat is impervious to water and bacterial growth and can be custom cut to fit the contours of any bathroom or floor.

Please go to www.SaferFalls.com to receive more information and education on these important fall prevention and fall protection products.