how does falls affect the elderly?
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Falls in the elderly are common and associated with major morbidity and mortality. Falls cause injuries, fractures, loss of confidence and independence, depression and death. Recurrent falls and fear of falling are the most common reasons for an older person to require nursing home care.
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The short answer is that it depends on the circumstances surrounding the fall, and what caused it. In almost every situation where someone falls in a hospital, any lawsuit filed over the incident will be governed by one of two legal concepts: medical malpractice, or. ordinary negligence.
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Dizziness or light-headedness when standing occurs in about 20% of older people. It is more common among people with coexisting disorders, especially high blood pressure, and among residents of long-term care facilities. Many falls may result from dizziness when standing. Older people should avoid prolonged standing.
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Several studies have found that impaired vision, lower extremity sensory impairment, reduced lower extremity strength, and reduced grip strength are associated with the risk of falls (see Table 15-1).
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When objects fall to the ground, gravity causes them to accelerate. Acceleration is a change in velocity, and velocity, in turn, is a measure of the speed and direction of motion. Gravity causes an object to fall toward the ground at a faster and faster velocity the longer the object falls.
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A sedentary lifestyle or too sitting and inactivity can lead to osteoporosis. Increased Chances of Dementia, Depression, and Anxiety. The mind is more linked to the lack of moving than most realize, especially in the elderly.
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Symptoms of dehydration in elderly adults may sometimes be subtle, but not drinking enough water and fluids can have a big effect on the body, especially in the elderly. Severe dehydration can lead to confusion, weakness, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, bedsores in bedridden patients, and other serious conditions.
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Depression, anxiety or mental illness due to aging Experiencing the loss of friends and loved ones only makes matters worse. Seniors with mental illness may also show signs of depression or experience mood changes that cause them to cry more easily.
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Compression fractures The bones that make up your spine (vertebrae) can weaken to the point that they crumple, which may result in back pain, lost height and a hunched posture. Bone fractures, particularly in the spine or hip, are the most serious complications of osteoporosis.
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Most falls do not result in serious injury. But there's always a risk that a fall could lead to broken bones, and it can cause the person to lose confidence, become withdrawn, and feel as if they have lost their independence.
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The Effects of Aging The number and size of muscle fibers also decrease. Thus, it takes muscles longer to respond in our 50s than they did in our 20s. The water content of tendons, the cord-like tissues that attach muscles to bones, decreases as we age. This makes the tissues stiffer and less able to tolerate stress.
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Older people have the highest risk of death or serious injury arising from a fall and the risk increases with age. For example, in the United States of America, 20–30% of older people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries such as bruises, hip fractures, or head trauma.
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['Depression in the caregiver.', 'Lack of support from other potential caregivers.', "The caregiver's perception that taking care of the elder is burdensome and without emotional reward.", 'Substance abuse by the caregiver.', "The intensity of the elderly person's illness or dementia."]
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Although the causes of dizziness in older people are multifactorial, peripheral vestibular dysfunction is one of the most frequent causes. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most frequent form of vestibular dysfunction in the elderly, followed by Meniere's disease.
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After just a few days of bed rest, blood starts to pool in the legs. On standing, this can lead to dizziness and falls. Immobility also causes the heart to beat more quickly, and the volume of blood pumped is lower. The volume of blood generally in the body is lower, and there is less oxygen uptake by the body.
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Relationship Between the Distance and Time of a Falling Object. Freefall occurs where the only force acting on an object is gravity. Because gravitational acceleration on earth is constant, the distance an object falls is proportional to the time spent falling.
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The symptoms of Spinal Stenosis can affect a person's balance. Depending on where the Stenosis occurs, the symptoms could vary. The patient's motor skills and dexterity may be compromised. It can also affect a person's grip, bowel movement, functioning of the limbs, gait and balance.