Falls can be especially dangerous for older adults, often causing fractures, hospitalization, and disability. The risk of falling increases with age, leaving senior populations vulnerable and posing a serious threat to health, longevity, and independence for older adults.
The senior population at greatest risk for loss of function or loss of life after a fall are residents age 85 and older. The average age of assisted living residents is 84. Though most facilities allow patients as young as 65, 52% of residents are over 85, and 30% are between 75 and 84. This also presents a risk to assisted living and independent living communities where older adults reside, as falls are a major contributor to hospitalizations among seniors. Reducing hospitalizations is a primary goal in most communities. The good news is that many falls are avoidable.
More than one in four people age 65 years or older fall each year, and half of those will end up falling again within six months. That’s over 3 million falls per year, with half of all those being fatal and over 87% requiring emergency room treatment. Of those hospitalizations, 50% require surgery to repair hip fractures.
It’s fair to say that having a holistic, resident-centered fall assessment and senior fall prevention program in place is critical to both residents and community operators.
Studies show that fall risks are multifactorial and that effective fall prevention programs are lacking in most communities. Most organizations don’t offer specialized, clinical therapies aimed specifically at reducing the risk of falls among senior living populations. Higher-risk populations, such as frail, injured, and post-surgical individuals, require specialized clinical programming not widely found in today’s communities, and home health programs often don’t address these individuals from a clinical standpoint. As a result, the lack of a universal fall screening and prevention program within senior living communities is the root cause of falls.
According to The Joint Commission, the frequency and severity of senior falls can be attributed to six leading contributors:
- Inadequate fall assessment
- Lack of adherence to safety practices
- Inadequate care management/not having proper access to skilled therapy
- Deficiencies in the physical environment (surroundings presenting a risk)
- Lack of action by leadership
To be successful, community leaders must make fall prevention screening and clinical programs accessible to residents on demand, and in the convenience of their homes. Falls are preventable with the right programs, including regular resident risk assessments and clinical outcome-based programs. Functional Pathways offers a multitude of fall prevention and Core4 specialty therapy programs like Be Steady and Aqua therapy, along with balance assessments and fit tests to assess risk factors and recommend therapy and wellness programs to residents who are at risk.
Our next blog in this two-part Fall Prevention series discusses proven ways for senior community leaders to reduce falls. For more information on fall prevention programs for your CCRC or AL/IL community, click here.