Health

Preventing Injuries in Older Adults — What You Can Do

When you think of ways to stay healthy, you may focus on exercising and eating right to prevent illness and disease. But you may not realize that injuries are a leading cause of health problems for older adults. In fact, older adults are at a higher risk for several types of injuries that can lead to death or physical disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “It’s important for older adults to understand the most common types of injuries,” says UAB epidemiologist Gerald McGwin, PhD. “Then, you can lower your risk for injury by taking some important and simple preventive steps.” Read on to learn some of the most common injury risks for older adults — and what you can do to prevent them.

• Falls. Unfortunately, falls are the leading cause of injury and death for Americans aged 65 and older, according to the CDC. In fact, each year, about 35% to 40% of adults aged 65 and older fall at least once. “The good news is that an abundance of research on fall prevention has given us information about effective ways to prevent most falls from occurring,” says Dr. McGwin. Lower your risk of falling with these simple steps:
  • Be aware of any medications you’re taking that can cause dizziness or impaired motor function. You may need to limit or modify your activity level while on these medications.
  • Remove or secure rugs that tend to slide, and purchase rugs with slip-resistant backing.
  • Use the maximum wattage bulb allowed by the fixtures in your home.
  • Install night lights.
  • Be sure stairs are well-lit and that handrails are secure and provide a comfortable grip.
  • Provide plenty of space between pieces of furniture in your home to reduce the risk of tripping.
• Burns. Many older adults experience burn-related injuries during cooking or bathing. “Age-related physiological changes can result in reduced sensitivity to pain,” explains Dr. McGwin. “Because of this, many older adults may not even realize that their skin has been burned, or they may have a burn injury that is more severe than they know.” Take these steps to prevent burn-related injuries:
  • Check the setting on your hot water heather to make sure it’s not greater than 120 - 125 degrees.
  • Roll back long, loose sleeves or fasten them with pins or elastic bands when you’re cooking.
  • Don’t hang towels on oven handles.
  • Store flammable and combustible items away from your cook top and oven.
  • Don’t place or store items like pot holders, dish towels, or plastic utensils on or near your cook top.
• Motor vehicle collision. According to the CDC, there are about 26 million licensed drivers aged 65 and older in the U.S. – and that number is expected to increase to 40 million by the year 2020. “For any given collision, older adults are more likely to be injured because their bodies can’t sustain the same force as the body of a younger adult,” Dr. McGwin explains. Because driving research shows that older drivers don’t tend to communicate their concerns about driving with family members of caregivers, Dr. McGwin says it’s important for family members and caregivers to be aware of potential problems and keep the line of communication open. “Also, because vision is important for driving ability, older adults should have an eye exam yearly,” adds. Dr. McGwin.
• Medication. The inappropriate use of medication is a common cause of injury among older adults. “Because many older adults are being treated for several chronic conditions, it’s likely that they’re seeing more than one specialist,” says Dr. McGwin. “If one physician is unaware of the medication another is prescribing, dangerous drug interactions can result. Education is the key to preventing these problems.” Prevent medication-related injury with these important steps:
  • Make sure that your healthcare provider and your caregiver are aware of all the medications you’re taking.
  • Be sure your medications are regulated and organized. Get help from a family member if needed.
  • Make sure that you understand the label directions on each bottle of medication. Call your healthcare provider if there is anything you don’t understand.