https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqQGjPOFio0&feature=related
This ABC News segment on preventing dangerous falls among the elderly is a couple of years old, but the dangers remain as prevalent as ever. As we discussed on Monday, the National Safety Council (NSC) has made June National Safety Month, and this week is dedicated specifically to raising awareness about preventing slips, trips and falls.
While we mentioned in our previous post that children aged 0 to 4 years old are one of the groups for which the rates of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) caused by falls are highest, the other group is adults age 75 years and older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that death rates from falls among older men and women have “risen sharply over the past decade,” and notes that many older people who fall develop a fear of falling—even if they were not injured. The CDC says this fear can in turn increase their actual risk of falling, as the fear can cause them to limit their activities and then lead to reduced mobility and loss of physical fitness. Additionally, one out of three adults age 65 and older falls each year, but the CDC says less than half talk to their healthcare provider about it.
The CDC says older adults can reduce their chances of falling by exercising regularly, asking their doctor or pharmacist to review their medicines and having their eyes checked at least once a year to maximize their vision. They can also make sure their homes are safe by improving lighting, reducing tripping hazards and adding stair railings and grab bars inside and outside bathtubs or showers.
If you have a loved one who has sustained a TBI or other serious injury as a result of a fall that was the result of another party’s negligence or nursing home abuse and neglect, you can use the form on this page to provide information about your case or contact our firm by phone to let our Orlando personal injury lawyers see how they may be able to help.
Wooten Kimbrough, P.A. – Orlando personal injury attorneys