Why Elderly People Fall

Many elderly people fear of falling, and they have a good reason to do so. Indeed, falls are a common problem among the older population, and a major threat to their quality of life. It is estimated that more than one out of four older people fall each year. In the EU alone, 3.8 million older adults (persons aged 65 and above) attend emergency departments with a fall-related injury each year, 1.4 million of which are admitted to hospital for further treatment.

While many of these injuries are not serious, approximately one half of them include a broken bone, such as arm, wrist, ankle or hip fracture. Not only is such an injury very difficult to recover from, but it can also significantly decrease the person’s ability to function independently

Too often, the increased fear of suffering another fall results in loss of confidence, causing the person to impose a self-restriction on everyday physical and social activities. When an older person is less active, however, he or she becomes weaker, paradoxically increasing the risk of falling. Because of this, elderly people who experience a fall are two times more likely to fall again.

Although they might seem as a normal part of ageing, falls in the elderly are not inevitable. In order to overcome their fears and reduce the risk of falling, older people can take a number of preventive measures, such as having their eyes checked regularly, reviewing medication that can contribute to dizziness or slower reflex responses, wearing shoes with firm soles and flat heels, adding grab bars in the shower, putting railings on stairs and getting rid of things that could be easily tripped over.

However, since reduced physical function, coordination, muscle strength and flexibility are the main reasons why falls occur in the first place, the importance of one particular prevention measure outweighs the rest: namely, exercise. As an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, regular workout should be practiced regardless of the age. As the body gets older, staying active actually becomes of even greater