Nursing Interventions to Prevent Falls in Older Adults

Falls are the leading cause of injury in individuals over age 65. Each year, a quarter of older adults reports falling. This represents 14 million individuals. Of these injured adults, 37 percent required medical treatment or restricted activity for at least one day. Effective fall prevention strategies not only reduce the incidence of falls but also improve patient confidence and enhance quality of life for older adults. Our team members at Visiting Angels Asheville are uniquely equipped to help patients and their families understand and manage fall risks in the home and throughout their wider environment.

Understanding the Significance of Fall Prevention in Older Adults

Falls among older adults result in three million visits to the emergency department and over 950,000 hospitalizations or transfers to other health care facilities. Falls also result in around 32,000 deaths among older adults each year, particularly among those age 85 and older. 

While physical injuries are the most obvious consequence of a fall, this type of injury can have psychological consequences as well. Sustaining a fall can leave the patient fearful of another fall. If they don't feel confident moving about or leaving their homes, they may feel a disheartening lack of independence or suffer from social isolation. Social isolation, in turn, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and dementia.

Fall prevention is crucial for maintaining quality of life, independence, and physical well-being among older adults. Our Visiting Angels can help assess your loved one's fall risk and recommend mindful solutions to help prevent the hazards of a fall, both physical and emotional.

Common Causes of Falls in the Elderly

Understanding the underlying causes of falls in the elderly is essential to develop effective prevention strategies. There are many factors that hinder mobility and contribute to the risk of falls in older adults. The natural effects of aging increase fall risks in several ways. Muscle weakness, reduced joint flexibility, and conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis can all impair movement, balance, and coordination. Changes in vision resulting from issues such as cataracts and macular degeneration can make it more difficult for patients to perceive hazards.

Chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and dementia can cause confusion, dizziness, and fatigue. Medications associated with these and other conditions may have similar side effects as well. 

Individuals who don't use proper assistive devices are at a higher risk of accidents. Using a chair or box instead of a proper step stool or riser may cause a fall if the patient doesn't accurately evaluate their own risk factor or abilities. A home that's not properly prepared for the needs of an aging adult can also contribute to falls. Loose rugs, poor lighting, uneven flooring, or general clutter can all contribute to falls in the elderly.

Universal Fall Precautions for Elderly Patients

Prevention programs implemented by nurses can reduce the incidence of falls by as much as 10%. You can help prevent falls and instability in aging patients with preventive measures such as:

• An exercise regimen that includes balance exercises, strength training, and gait training
• Vitamin D supplements
• Proper footwear
• Regular screening for foot problems and vision problems 
• Regular fall risk assessments with tools such as the Morse Fall Scale or Hendrich II Fall Risk Model

Pair these preventive measures with active interventions that can help older adults avoid falls.

Safe Mobility Education

Fall prevention education is important to inform both patients and their families about the potential for falls and the risk factors that contribute to them. Patients should be thoroughly instructed on how to use assistive devices. Walkers, canes, and wheelchairs must be properly fitted to the patient and maintained for ongoing safety. Patients may require assistance and supervision when transferring to mobility devices, such as a wheelchair, or when getting in and out of bed or a chair.

Our caregivers at Visiting Angels of Western North Carolina can teach patients how to use mobility devices on their own and assist with the use of these devices when needed. Our services include mobility assistance of all types.

Use of Alarms and Call Systems

High-risk patients may need bed or chair alarms to alert caregivers when they attempt to transfer unassisted. Other types of alarms can contact emergency personnel or alert others in the home if the individual falls at any time and needs assistance.

Enhancing Safety Through Home Modifications

For older adults living at home, creating a safe environment is paramount to avoiding falls in the elderly. A whopping 79 percent of falls among older adults occur at home, and over 71 percent happen indoors. This means that mindful home modifications are among the best fall prevention strategies. The bedroom, bathroom, and stairs are the most common locations for falls in the home. Nursing interventions for fall risk patients include assessing and modifying the home for greater safety:

• Eliminate hazards: Secure rugs, organize clutter, and cover electrical cords to reduce tripping hazards.
• Improve lighting: Install bright lighting throughout the house, particularly in halls and stairways. Place nightlights throughout the home for nighttime visibility. Program home systems to turn on an appropriate series of lights with voice control.
• Upgrade bathrooms: Install grab bars for the toilet, shower, and tub. Add raised toilet seats, shower chairs, and handheld showerheads to make bathing and toileting easier.
• Organize the kitchen: Place items within easy reach, and optimize the setup for a streamlined workflow that minimizes the need to move around.
• Rearrange furniture: Create clear, direct pathways throughout the house that are easy to maneuver.

Partnering With Visiting Angels in Asheville 

Fall prevention safety in older adults is a multifaceted challenge, but our dedicated caregivers at Visiting Angels Asheville are uniquely equipped to help. We're highly trained in assessing risk factors and implementing precautions to help families and patients create a safer environment. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you or your loved one age in place safely and avoid falls while remaining in a much-loved home.