How to prevent falls in the elderly？

As age increases, people gradually enter old age, and various body functions gradually decline. However, aging cannot keep up with the aging rate of bones. Therefore, if an elderly person inadvertently falls, it may cause major harm to the body. harm. According to research, falls are the third leading cause of chronic disability in the elderly. Falls in the elderly will not only cause damage to the limbs, but may also cause severe mobility impairment.

First of all,What are the dangers of falling?Retrospective studies in China report that the fall rate among community-dwelling elderly people is 11%-34%, and 4%-5% of Chinese elderly people fall 2-3 times within a year. Falls in the elderly can cause the following serious injuries: fractures; subdural hematoma; severe soft tissue injuries; some elderly people may be afraid and dare not move because of a fall, resulting in decreased physical function and behavioral withdrawal. The probability of fractures caused by falls in the elderly is as high as 25%, and the common fracture site after falls in the elderly is hip fractures, and this fracture is called the "last fracture in life". In addition to hip fractures, the humerus, femur, Radius, spine, etc. are also common fracture sites. A survey shows that after a hip fracture occurs in the elderly, the mortality rate within one year may reach 30% to 50%, which is more harmful than malignant tumors.

Secondly,What risks lead to falls?There are many risk factors that cause falls in the elderly, including physiological, pathological, environmental, drug, psychological and social factors.

① Physiology: After entering old age, muscle mass decreases, strength decreases, balance function decreases, reaction ability becomes worse, osteoporosis, brittle bones and other physiological factors lead to falls.

②Pathology: Falls are caused by organ system diseases such as the nervous system, cardiovascular system, bone and joint lesions, and vision problems.

③Environmental and social factors: Slippery floors at home, dim indoor lighting, unreasonable placement of items, uneven floors or obstacles in residential areas and streets are all factors that can lead to falls.

④Drugs: The elderly often suffer from chronic diseases and need to take a variety of drugs on a daily basis. Antihypertensive, hypoglycemic, sedative and other drugs may affect activities or consciousness and lead to falls.

Last but not the least,how to prevent falls in the elderly?

①Move slowly. The elderly should have a correct understanding and judgment of their own body functions, move slowly in daily life, and follow the three 30-second principles when getting up: first lie in bed for 30 seconds when waking up, then sit up for 30 seconds, and then stand up Stand holding on to the furniture for 30 seconds, then move around when you are fully awake. It is advisable for the elderly to use the sitting toilet to avoid cerebral ischemia and postural hypotension that may lead to fainting and falling when standing up suddenly while using the squatting toilet. The elderly should not sit or squat for a long time, let alone stand up suddenly.

②Exercise appropriately. Sitting for long periods of time can easily have adverse effects on body muscles, so the elderly can walk around for a while and engage in safe exercises, such as Tai Chi, walking, and some balance function training, to enhance their physical fitness.

③ Use assistive devices. The elderly can choose appropriate assistive devices according to their own circumstances to assist in walking. However, some elderly people currently feel uncomfortable with the behavior of "using crutches and walkers" and believe that "using assistive devices" is acknowledging "I am old and cannot walk". "I can't move" and therefore do not want to use assistive devices. This is not advisable. The role of assistive devices is to help people better maintain balance during walking, reduce the probability of falls, and assist in lower limb functional exercise and rehabilitation.