{"id":29052,"date":"2022-12-22T09:14:50","date_gmt":"2022-12-22T14:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.residences-quebec.ca\/?p=29052"},"modified":"2022-12-23T11:04:25","modified_gmt":"2022-12-23T16:04:25","slug":"falls-are-the-leading-cause-of-injury-among-canadian-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/residences-quebec.ca\/blog\/en\/falls-are-the-leading-cause-of-injury-among-canadian-seniors\/","title":{"rendered":"Falls are the leading cause of injury among Canadian seniors\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Falls are the leading cause of injury among Canadian seniors\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every year, 20\u201330% of seniors fall at least once.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Falls are responsible for 85% of injury-related hospitalizations in seniors and 95% of all hip fractures, and have direct estimated costs of over $2 billion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over one-third of elderly persons hospitalized after a fall are taken in by a long-term care establishment (CHSLD) upon their release from hospital.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Falls can lead to chronic pain, reduced mobility, loss of autonomy and even death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is noteworthy that 50% of falls leading to hospitalization occur at home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Source<\/strong>: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/health-promotion\/aging-seniors\/publications\/publications-general-public\/seniors-falls-canada-second-report.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Report<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>Private residences (RPAs) have developed procedures to follow if a resident falls:\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A procedure for orderlies (PABs) if there is no nurse on the floor\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A separate procedure for nursing assistants<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-29056\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.residences-quebec.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_01-600x464.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"464\" data-full=\"https:\/\/residences-quebec.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_01-scaled.jpg\" data-full-size=\"2560x1978\" srcset=\"https:\/\/residences-quebec.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_01-600x464.jpg 600w, https:\/\/residences-quebec.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_01-1024x791.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/residences-quebec.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_01-768x593.jpg 768w, https:\/\/residences-quebec.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_01-1536x1187.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/residences-quebec.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_01-2048x1583.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-29058\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.residences-quebec.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_02-600x463.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"463\" data-full=\"https:\/\/residences-quebec.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_02-scaled.jpg\" data-full-size=\"2560x1978\" srcset=\"https:\/\/residences-quebec.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_02-600x463.jpg 600w, https:\/\/residences-quebec.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_02-1024x791.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/residences-quebec.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_02-768x593.jpg 768w, https:\/\/residences-quebec.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_02-1536x1187.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/residences-quebec.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RQ-Document-F-EN_02-2048x1582.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Falls are difficult to prevent. They happen, be it at home or in RPAs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The reason for a senior falling can vary:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drop in blood pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic illness, acute conditions or other degenerative <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diseases<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malnourishment, anemia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ill-adapted environment, e.g., slipping on a wet bathtub surface or loose rug\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Degenerative diseases such as dementia or Parkinson\u2019s<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ill-suited medication<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cluttered rooms\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Balance or gait deficiencies\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor nutrition<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social isolation: seniors living alone have higher fall rates\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The risk of falls and injury from falls is two to three times higher in seniors with dementia or other cognitive impairment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental confusion and disorientation, which can also manifest as delirium, also increase the risk of falling. Delirium can be caused by acute infection, medications, dehydration, sensory impairment or emotional distress.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seniors with visual impairments are 2.5 times more likely to experience falls.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Muscle weakness and decrease in physical fitness: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loss of muscle strength and endurance can reduce a person\u2019s ability to recover when they slip or trip. The risk is four to five times higher.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Acute illnesses:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The symptoms of acute illness, including weakness, pain, fever, nausea, dizziness, can increase the risk of falling.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Infections, <\/strong><b>especially those of the urinary tract, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are a triggering factor in 8% of falls.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, the effects of drugs taken to treat diseases or symptoms can also increase the risk of falling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Assistive devices:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These devices can promote autonomy and mobility, while also preventing falls, if they are used properly and suitably maintained. However, lack of maintenance, defects, poor adjustment and over-dependency on the device can turn it into a potential cause of falls. Cane tips can wear out, wheels of walkers and wheelchairs can loosen and assistive devices may be too heavy or the wrong size.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Shoes and clothes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Inappropriate shoes (thick soles, slippery straps, high or narrow heels) have been associated with fall risks. Overlong clothing can hinder walking and slippery fabrics like satin can cause a senior to slide off their seat. Additionally, clothing that is difficult to put on can lead to a person with reduced mobility losing their balance and falling while dressing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Risky behaviours: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For an elderly person, behaviours like walking without the walker or cane they depend on can result in falls and injury.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Excessive alcohol: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alcohol can interact with certain medications and increase the risk of falling by altering perception, balance and gait.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Poor nutrition: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is reasonable to expect that dehydration and malnutrition due to eating poorly and not drinking enough can lead to muscle weakness, fatigue and frailness.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Fear of falling:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The fear of falling is in itself an important risk factor for falls. A recent analysis of data on Canadian homes revealed that 34% of Canadians aged 65 or over are afraid of falling. This fear can lead to reduced physical activity, which then leads to muscle weakness and poor balance.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Medication:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Some studies have highlighted a strong correlation between falls and fractures in seniors and certain drugs, particularly <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">psychotropics (which affect mood), tranquilizers and sleeping pills. These include benzodiazepines, antidepressants and antipsychotics.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any medication that can cause sleepiness, dizziness, low blood pressure<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Parkinsonian symptoms, ataxia, or gait or visual disturbances increase the risk of falls in the elderly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, medications that reduce bone density or increase the risk of bleeding can increase the likelihood of injury during falls and the seriousness of those injuries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Vitamin D:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Vitamin D is associated with bone and muscle strength.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers recently established that taking a vitamin D supplement (with or without a calcium supplement) reduces fall risks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Measures to help prevent falls:\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better ratio of care staff for seniors in all types of residences<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Peer program (daily prevention calls with alert in case of non-confirmation)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emergency ringers or pulls<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surveillance cameras\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fall monitor cushions\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technical assistance or mobility aids: e.g., walkers, canes, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Call bracelets or necklaces\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exercise!\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/health-promotion\/aging-seniors\/publications\/publications-general-public\/seniors-falls-canada-second-report\/seniors-falls-canada-infographic.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Government of Canada<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Falls are the leading cause of injury among Canadian seniors\u00a0 Every year, 20\u201330% of seniors fall at least once.\u00a0 Falls&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":29066,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,16,11,82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-non-classifiee","category-residences-privees-pour-personnes-agees","category-sante-et-mieux-etre","category-statistiques-residences-retraites"],"better_featured_image":{"id":29066,"alt_text":"","caption":"Retired women fell down. 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