Falls and what can be done to reduce the danger?

Ted_Hutchinson

CG21 Falls: The assessment and prevention of falls in older people, Understanding NICE guidance - information for older people, their families and carers, and the public

I was at a meeting yesterday where some rather depressing statistics relating to cost to the community of older people falling in their own homes and having to be taken to hospital were being discussed. Alarmingly about 50% of older people who fall at home and have to be taken to A&E will not be alive 12 months later. So preventing falls, and preventing emergency admissions to hospital is important. In order to appreciate the scale of the problem you can scale up from the Lincolnshire statistics which show 90.000 admissions from falls last year.

There are things which can be done to reduce the number of falls which is why I've posted the NICE guidelines above.

MedlinePlus: Osteoporosis is at the root of many falls and Vitamin D deficiency is a precusor. We get Vitamin D from sunlight so enabling the Older people you know to go outside and enjoy the sunlight is something which doesn't cost and will help. So if you go to visit, take them out, don't sit indoors.

I've mentioned the huge problem of underclaiming of Council Tax - Help the Aged by the elderly which is match by underclaims on Pension Credit. EntitledTo - your guide to benefits and tax credits should enable you to have an idea if your elderly relative or neighbour is missing out.

Better wealth does mean better health as the finacial cost, let alone the problems of buying and cooking the Healthiest foods may be a problem to some older people. It's very easy for them to adopt a restricted diet which doesn't include many of the healthiest foods and ensuring adequate nutrition is fundamental to staying fit.

Edinburghlass_2

Best not to leave the guinea pigs cages in the hall either just asking to be fallen over