Pain and Anxiety Associated with Falls in the Elderly

Falling is a common cause of the health problem, leading to injury, hospitalization, institutionalization, and even mortality in community-dwelling older adults (1, 2). It is estimated that 30–40% of older adults experience at least 1 fall a year. This amounts to direct costs of 0.1% and 1.5%, respectively, of the total healthcare expenditures of the United States and European countries (3). Over the past few decades, a number of risk factors of falling have been identified (e.g., mobility, mental status, vision, hearing, blood pressure, hip weakness, medications, and balance control) (4-6). Prospective study also finds previous fall experience as a significant predictor of future falls (7). It is therefore important to obtain a good understanding of risk factors for falls to enable identification of targets for intervention and prevention.

Research by Cronin and Steenerson (2012) investigated whether vestibular therapy can decrease Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) among older people or not. Disequilibrium is a common condition among the older adult, but it should be diagnosed by Otologist because it leads to the falls and decline quality of life. The study population comprised 100 patients diagnosed with disequilibrium from community-dwelling elderly over 69 years old. The researchers selected 43 men and 57 women, whereas 56 patients reported at least two falls within the past six months. The patients undergo the Dix - Hallpike test to determine the BPPV condition; the test indicated 91 patients have BPPV, and 78 patients have a positive Romberg test. The vestibular

This article identifies that falls in the elderly patients is common on patients admitted to nursing homes and hospitals. They provided data explaining the severity of the problem. The authors the explained the risk factors that contribute to patents falls while receiving treatment. They concluded that the major risk factors for falls include previous fall history (3.06), use of assistive devices (2.08), and moderate disability (1.00). They also identified other factors that either reduces or contributes to falls. Other factors identified includes; balance and muscle weakness. The proposal from this article is that patients who are qualified for the three major risk factors should be closely monitored while admitted in the hospital or care

Falls are considered a leading cause of mortality and injury among older adults and majority of the falls occurs while hospitalized. One would think being in the hospital would be one of the safest places for older adults as far as fall prevention is concern due to the fact that hospitals provide staffing around the clock for patients but more and more falls have been occurring in the hospital especially in the older adult population. Fall is an unintended descent to the ground. It raises public and family care liability; it also decreases patient’s functioning because it causes pain and suffering, and increases medical costs (Saverino et al, 2015). The Center for Disease Control

Falls are a major problem in elderly population in the United States living in nursing facilities. Statistics from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) show that approximately 800,000 seniors fall each year and 1 in 3 of those will fall twice or one more time in a year. (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2012). Most falls are caused by a combination of risk factors. The more risk factors a person has, the greater their chances of falling. Healthcare providers can help cut down a person’s risk by reducing the fall risk factors

There’s an increased rate at which patients fall in hospital settings are affecting the healthcare industries, patients and family members. According to studies performed, it is evident that those who are mainly affected are the adults that are over 60 years of age. Some of the factors that lead to these falls are; visual impairments, wrong footwear and tripping are some of the external causes of falls among these hospitalized patients. Because this has become a major concern, research has embarked on how these factors have led to increased falls in these patients. Adult patients falls are major threat to patients safety and cost management in hospitals making prevention measures a key area of concern and

There are several reasons why falls are caused in late adulthood. Falls could be caused because of bad eyesight, loss of hearing, and slow reflexes. Also,

Individuals sustaining a fall is a troublesome issue worldwide. The risk of falling is enhanced as a result of hospitalization due to the unfamiliarity of the surround environment, sickness and treatments. The fall itself and associated inuries imposes a burden on the individual and the entire health care system. It can have a lingering effect on the individual resulting in limited mobility, which imposes declining functionality and a heightened probability of additional occurrences of falling 4. As individuals age, the probability of being injuries as a result of a fall increases dramatically and in the case of necessary hospitalization, results in increased costs and prolonged periods of stay (Dykes et al., 2010).

Falls are a common cause of death for people over the age of 65. Following accidents, fall related mortality rate has relatively stayed constant over the last four decades. The dementia disorder continues to add an increase in fall-risk. Despite their knowledge

Falls in older patients has become a major problem in geriatric care facilities that I currently work, with an increase to in 15% from previous year, leading to serious physical and psychological consequences which are very devastating. Falls resulting in fractures of the skull, hip, wrist, spine and other severe injuries has lengthened hospitalization, and medical cost. Falls have also incurred fear, apprehension, suffering, depression, and reduced patient’s independence. Bone injuries (fractures) in older adult patients heal slower and poorer due to deterioration and weakening in bone function. Falls in older adults are the leading cause of

One of the most serious health threats to seniors is also the most preventable. This threat is the act of falling. Each year, thousands of seniors injured in falls are treated in emergency rooms. While falling can injure people of any age, seniors don't have the upper body musculature and quick reaction times of younger adults to effectively break their falls.

According to ENT Today, 70 percent of seniors over 65-years old experience bouts of vertigo. When a person has vertigo, they have the feeling of their body moving when it isn't. This is typically described as a spinning, tilting, swaying, or pull in a single direction. While people of all ages experience vertigo, it is especially dangerous for seniors because of the increased risk of falls.

Many people continue to raise alarm over a big number of old people who are falling in nursing homes. This is according to reports which indicates that old people are nursing injuries which caused by falls. Research indicates that old people who are from 65 years of age and above are the most affected by this problem. Most of these people do not have sufficient strength and this leads to falls. When they fall, some get injured where even some lose their lives. This being the case, different statistics have been presented regarding the number of old people who fall and those who are affected by this problem. It is important to note that a large number of old people suffer from various sicknesses. These leads to their lack of ability to support themselves and thus the cause of their falls. Nursing homes are increasingly reporting cases of old people who fall. There are groups and individuals who have raised concerns regarding the increasing numbers of these falls in nursing homes. Some have indicated that this is led by lack of proper care which is caused by recklessness in various duties. Some nursing homes have inadequate personnel to assist old people and this leads to

The risk of falling dramatically increases as one ages. According to Menant et al, a fall is defined as an “unexpected event in which the person comes to the ground, floor, or lower level”. In this study conducted by Menant et al, Menant and the authors wanted to identify medical, psychological, and physiological mediators of the relationship between dizziness and falls in older adults.

Falls are a commonly experienced problem among the elderly population. The incidence rates of falls among the Hong Kong’s community-living elderly stood at 26 percent, while the incidence of new fallers stands at 198 falls per 1000 individuals per year. Whereas, one-year prevalence level of falls was identified to be 19 percent with the mean number of falls annually for a faller being 1.4 falls. Forty-seven of the falls in a year were identified occur indoors while the rest outdoors. Around a third of the elderly population aged over 64 years experience at least one fall a year. Past studies link falls to extrinsic factors and intrinsic factors. An example of intrinsic factors includes medical problems while one extrinsic factor involves environmental hazards. Comprehensively, falls result from muscle weaknesses, gait deficits, usage of assistive devices, cognitive impairments, arthritis, advanced age and history of falls (Fong, Siu, Yeung, Cheung, & Chan, 2011).