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-Unknown

÷


 
Some time ago I heard one of the most memorable statements ever made on the
topic of falling. Louis Tenenbaum, an expert in the area of aging in place, delivered it
during a webinar. He said: Dzfalls steal dreams.dz

This is where I would go on to list fall statistics, the annual costs of falls, and then
provide a list action items to prevent falls around the house for aging in place.
Instead I want to elaborate on the aftermath of a fallȄand those lost dreams.

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 ÷


Imagine if you will, a vibrant healthy 73 year old that 

   

She is active in her church, does exercise 3 mornings a week at the YMCA,
volunteers with the grade school teaching kids to read, and meets with a book club
at Starbucks once a week.

She has an active family life and is a grandmother of three, who recently started
dating (itǯs been 2 years since her beloved husband died) a retired man who she met
at her evening painting class.   



One morning the doorbell rings, itǯs the UPS man and she rushes to the stairs to
catch him before he drives awayȄshe trips on a pile of clean laundry placed on the
steps the night before--and fallsǥ







In the emergency room she waits with her anxious family, then after what seems
like forever, sheǯs    
 
 
 
 . She will need
an operation. By now the pain is intolerable and they wonǯt let her go to the
bathroomȄso they place a foley catheter in her bladder; and administer more IV
pain killers.

Her surgery is a success,

 
With her immune system now
weakened from the physiological stress, she develops a UTI (urinary tract infection)
from the foley catheter, and the bed rest has lead to pneumonia. The pain is not
allowing her to sleep and her appetite has dwindled.

She is now confused from the pain medications, lack of sleep, lack of proper
nutrition, and the low-grade fever from the undiagnosed staph infection from the
bed sore (caused by lack of movement in bed).

Her over all condition is deteriorating from the comorbidities which now
compromise the healing of the initial problemȄher hip. After three weeks in the
hospital and exhaustive treatments, including an admission to ICU for sepsis caused
by a nosocomial infection (from being in the hospitalȄlikely due to unwashed
hands of a caregiver or equipment), she is finally released to the rehabilitation
center for follow-up care until (if ever) she goes home.

Loosing weight and getting weaker her family sees her decline and pleads with the
staff to help--and they wonder if she will ever return to her home againǥ

  ÷  
This scenario may seem extreme to the readerȄbut ask any nurse who has been in
the business for long and they will affirm the all-to-common nature of this sad
scenario. This once vibrant 73 year old  


 

 

 
 

What will come of the children at the grade school? How about the budding
romance? And the people at the church, the YMCA, and her Book Club, and her
familyȄtheyǯve all

 
 

  

 


 

According to the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging, for
seniors the risk of death in the year following a hip fracture is as high as 20% to
25%. The rate can vary depending on the personǯs age, gender, race, physical
condition, and medical history.

Women are more prone to hip fractures (2 to 3 times more often than men) and the
risk of breaking a Hip doubles every 5 years or so after the age of 50 years. The
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports that white,
 
 


     
     and almost half of women who
react the age of 90 years will experience a broken hip.

This story

 
   the ending could be rewritten with  
   
Consult an occupational therapist and aging-in-place
professional, then educate yourself on how to prevent falls. The statistics show it's
likely, and to skew the odds in your favor be proactive. Should you or someone you
love be the 1-in-7, take the advice of a colleague:

c 
  !"Nurse Turned Writer

 

     
 A big issue is older
people resisting their pain meds thinking that they can manage. The problem is, if
she is having pain, she'll be less likely to move around like she needs to be.

#$ 
 

  
 Your mom may not have much of an appetite, so it's
important that what she does eat and drink is healthy. Try getting her to eat small
amounts several times a day instead of three big meals a day; of course, because of
her diabetes, you should speak with a dietitian to be sure that this would be a good
move for your mother.

%& 
 

 Many people with diabetes are slower to heal so
keep an eye on the wound. If it starts to look red, swollen or feels warm, get it
looked at asap, to make sure there's no infection.

'&  



 
 be sure she has lots of support in
case she becomes weak all of a sudden or trips. You don't want her to fall.

(c 



  
    
 
 , have
her skin checked regularly to be sure she doesn't get any pressure sores. If you find
an area that remains red after the pressure has been removed, it's important that
this spot not get any more pressure so the skin can heal. This is how pressure sores
start.

If you can keep your mom eating and drinking well, taking her medications and
moving about, you're really doing a lot to help her.
Good luck!

Remember, falls steal dreams.



Falls Steal Dreams
Every 18 seconds
Drop in Hip Fracture Rates
Halo Monitoring: Independence Redefined (non-affiliate link)
Intelǯs Magic Carpet Technology to Prevent Falls
Hip Fractures: A Guide for Recovery
AOTA: Fall Prevention Fact Sheet
)*+
"Occupational Therapist and Remodeler Team up 
,
 

-  "$  
 
)  , 
(photo babybeeblog.blogspot.com)