Are you at risk of a Fall?
Falls are also the leading cause of injury-related death and hospitalization.
· Aged over 65 years
· Over three times more likely to be admitted to a nursing home after a fall, and over ten times more likely after a fall that caused an injury or disability
· Falls can result in permanent disability, restriction of activity, loss of confidence and fear of falling, reducing your quality of life and independence
· Poor balance
· Slow reaction time
· Muscle weakness
· Poor eyesight
· Reduced sensation in hands and feet
· Limitations in activities of daily living (e.g. feeding and dressing oneself)
· Medical conditions (e.g. stroke and Parkinson’s disease)
· Medication user (e.g. drugs that affect the brain, and multiple medications)
. Fraility
WHAT TO DO:
· Exercising in programs that include balance and strength training
· Improving vision (e.g. removing cataracts and restricting use of multifocal glasses)
· Modifying the home for high-risk persons - think about putting in a Night Light
· Improving podiatry treatment, and foot and ankle exercises
· Have your medications reviewed by your local Pharmacist
A Doctors referral is needed if want Medicare cover.
Result of Falls:
Activity:
In the majority of cases activity while injured was recorded as:
o Resting,
o Sleeping,
o Eating or other personal activity (27%)
o Other type of work (10%)
o Or other leisure activity (6%)
o On examination of the injury description the type of activity being engaged in were normal day-to-day activities around the home such as cleaning, cooking, gardening etc.
Nature and body location:
The most common injury suffered as a result of a fall was:
o A fracture to either the hip, forearm or wrist
Other injuries recorded were:
v Sprain or strain *18%)
v Open wound (15%)
v and superficial injury (11%)
Other major sites of injury were:
v Head (10%)
v Knee (6%)
v Face (6%)
v and shoulder (5%)
Falls are also the leading cause of injury-related death and hospitalization.
· Aged over 65 years
· Over three times more likely to be admitted to a nursing home after a fall, and over ten times more likely after a fall that caused an injury or disability
· Falls can result in permanent disability, restriction of activity, loss of confidence and fear of falling, reducing your quality of life and independence
· Poor balance
· Slow reaction time
· Muscle weakness
· Poor eyesight
· Reduced sensation in hands and feet
· Limitations in activities of daily living (e.g. feeding and dressing oneself)
· Medical conditions (e.g. stroke and Parkinson’s disease)
· Medication user (e.g. drugs that affect the brain, and multiple medications)
. Fraility
WHAT TO DO:
· Exercising in programs that include balance and strength training
· Improving vision (e.g. removing cataracts and restricting use of multifocal glasses)
· Modifying the home for high-risk persons - think about putting in a Night Light
· Improving podiatry treatment, and foot and ankle exercises
· Have your medications reviewed by your local Pharmacist
A Doctors referral is needed if want Medicare cover.
Result of Falls:
Activity:
In the majority of cases activity while injured was recorded as:
o Resting,
o Sleeping,
o Eating or other personal activity (27%)
o Other type of work (10%)
o Or other leisure activity (6%)
o On examination of the injury description the type of activity being engaged in were normal day-to-day activities around the home such as cleaning, cooking, gardening etc.
Nature and body location:
The most common injury suffered as a result of a fall was:
o A fracture to either the hip, forearm or wrist
Other injuries recorded were:
v Sprain or strain *18%)
v Open wound (15%)
v and superficial injury (11%)
Other major sites of injury were:
v Head (10%)
v Knee (6%)
v Face (6%)
v and shoulder (5%)