The "Well" Blog in a recent edition of The New York Times included an interesting story about the need for seniors to "senior proof" their homes. The article raised some very legitimate concerns, with so many accidents happening in the home. Falls, in particular, are a very serious problem for seniors. In fact, they are the leading cause of injury deaths among people 65 years or older. In the United States one of every three people this age falls each year. Of all fractures from falls, hip fractures cause the greatest number of deaths and lead to the most severe health problems.
In our physical therapy practice , we regularly perform balance and risk of fall assessments for many of the seniors among our patients. In addition, we advise them to reduce their risk of falling by: maintaining a regular program of exercise; making the living area in their homes safer by removing tripping hazards and installing grab bars/handrails; and asking their doctors to review their medications to minimize side effects and interactions. We recommend these steps to safeguard members of our senior population, and are pleased to pass along any ingenious ideas for "senior proofing" homes to these patients.
- Vinod Somareddy (DPT)
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