Preventing Falls is Important for Seniors
Falls are the leading cause of injury in those over the age of 65. More than one-third of American senior citizens suffer from falls each year. While falls often are dismissed as something that just happens to older people, "that's a fallacy," says Kevin Condra, the Violence and Injury Prevention Program spokesman in Utah. "It shouldn't happen."
Injuries from falls can be of a wide range. They can be as simple as a strained finger or wrist or can be as severe as a broken hip, shoulder, or knee. William McNutt, the Health South Rehabilitation Hospital director, explains that older people are prone to more severe falls. "People's defense reactions as they get older are slowed down," said McNutt. "When you're younger and you fall, you might be able to twist or land or catch yourself. The elderly are halfway to the ground before they know they're falling." Head injuries suffered by old people who fall are often severe and life-altering. A person who falls and hits his or her brain can suffer severe consequences and may lose many skills.
Related Links:
Legal View: Traumatic Brain Injury
TBI: What We Should Know and Why We Should Care
Daily Health Policy Report
Brain Injury Awareness Week
Seniors Can Prevent Falls by Fixing Painful Feet