Balance & safety

Understanding your risk of falling

One in four Americans falls every year, and 20% of them are injured when they fall. Falls are the number one cause of hip fractures in older adults and can cause death.

Your risk of falling increases with age, often due to:

• Balance issues
• Medical conditions such as heart or foot problems
• Medications that cause sleepiness, dizziness or confusion
• Muscle weakness
• Vision problems

But falls are not an inevitable part of aging. You can lower your risk.

A comprehensive approach to falls prevention

At the Good Samaritan Society, we are actively helping adults over 65 years of age learn their risk status through screenings.

The Society follows a fall prevention strategy known as STEADI. This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiative is about “Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries.”

STEADI features three core elements:

• Screening an older adult for fall risk
• Assessing an older adult’s risk factors
• Intervening to reduce risk by giving older adults tailored intervention

Practical tips for seniors

If you feel you are at risk of falling, it’s important to discuss your concerns with your doctor and get screened regularly. Your care team will talk with you and your loved ones about how to prevent falls.

This includes:

• Making your home safer
  Read our tips for reducing your risk of falling at home
• Rehab therapy or exercise classes
  Learn about what to expect in rehab therapy
• Screenings
  Find a screening event near you

Screenings are simple assessments that involve sitting in a chair, standing up, walking a certain distance and then returning to the chair to sit down again. This checks your gait, balance and strength. You’ll learn your risk status and how to stay steady on your feet.

When screening for susceptibility to a fall, the top three factors are these:

• Have you fallen in the last year?
• Do you feel unsteady when you’re standing or walking?
• Do you worry about falling or have a fear of falling?