Fall Prevention: Heed the Warnings!

By Jason Anderson for Messenger-Inquirer

My aunt used to have a saying that I have never forgotten.  She passed away many years ago but the saying, which pertains to the aging process, has never left me.  Profound and timeless she would say … getting old ain’t for sissies!  I think I remember it so well because I know she was right.  The aging process brings along its share (sometimes more than its share) of health issues that can affect us on many levels. Aging can affect us cognitively and emotionally, but probably no more so than physically. Unless one is regularly exercising, the aging process often results in bone loss (osteopenia), muscle loss (atrophy), and balance issues. Put all these together, and you have all the makings for a potential fall.

Do you (or someone you know) recognize that as you have gotten older, you don’t have the strength in your lower body you once had? Maybe you have to get a “running start” when getting up from a chair. Would you go as far as maybe even using the term “clumsy” when it comes to describing your everyday getting around because you feel unstable, uncertain, and don’t feel as coordinated as you once were? When it comes down to it, are you afraid you will fall, or have you fallen already? Getting older is a gift not afforded to everyone, but many of the maladies you MAY experience as you get older don’t mean those maladies are INEVITABLE. In other words, you have some say in the matter!

Statistics tell us that the number one reason a person 65 years and older shows up at the emergency room is an injury resulting from a fall. I would imagine a large percentage of us reading this can name someone they know who is part of this statistic. Another very sad term that has arisen from older folks and falls is the term “death spiral” from the medical community. This term was created when an elderly person falls, suffers an injury, is hospitalized, and then begins an in-and-out relationship with hospital admissions from complications that can be drawn back to the original issue – injury resulting from a fall.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Being physically active (meaning regular exercise) and being proactive when you notice these types of issues and then taking the initiative – putting away pride in many cases – can literally be lifesaving. Heed the warnings! I have a very dear family member who, several years ago, was encountering all these aging issues mentioned above. She was in her late 80s at the time. She had fallen a couple of times but quickly wrote it off as a little clumsy. Those were the last warning signs until one day soon after she fell, and this time, she could not get up. She broke her femur (thigh bone) and was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where she had surgery and a rod was placed in her leg. This was just the beginning. After, she had to go into residential rehab – out of her home – where she stayed for 3-4 months, just getting to the place where she could walk with a walker. You cannot realize the repercussions that reverberated through the family. The good news is she is OK today. She cannot get around without that walker, but we are thankful she can get around. Some folks are not so lucky, and the outcome is not so good. Do the things today to ensure a secure tomorrow – eat right, exercise regularly, and if you have balance or fall issues, PLEASE don’t ignore them and don’t be a statistic. Please put pride aside and do what you need to do to get better – if not for yourself, for those you love and for those who love you.

If you are encountering balance and/or fall issues, please contact me at the Healthpark and let’s talk about our upcoming Fall Prevention/B.A.S.E. class that addresses these issues. We have a new class that will be starting on January 9. Let us help you build that strong support base; it’s never too late to start!

Jason Anderson is the Manager of Health and Fitness at the Owensboro Health Healthpark.