Recently several friends and family members have had their previously full and productive
lives altered dramatically due to unexpected and traumatic injuries caused by a sudden fall.
One of my previously-active aunts is now bedridden after falling in her bathroom and shattering
right her hip.
Due to her age, her hip has not healed well and she can no longer walk.
Now, Aunt Dorothy has to use a wheelchair to get around.
Another dear friend fell while race-walking around her neighborhood and sustained concussions
which resulted in headaches and dizziness as well as a fractured arm and hip.
Now Marion has to use a cane for support.
Worst of all, this fiercely independent woman is afraid to do many of the things she used to
do for fear of falling again.
After tripping and breaking his leg, my smart, feisty, always-on-the-go neighbor never fully
regained his strength and vigor.
Mr. Miller now relies on the support of a walker and full-time home attendant.
The common denominator: injuries sustained from a sudden fall changed their lives forever!
Did you know that falling is the most common cause of injury-related deaths in those age 65 and older
and leads to the majority of their lifetime injury costs.
In fact, with a third of people age 65 and older reporting a fall each year and two-thirds of that number
falling again within six months, falling poses a significant risk to seniors in their daily lives.
The common denominator:
injuries from a sudden fall
changed their lives forever!
According to The Recall Center, falling can cause traumatic injuries, most commonly hip fractures,
which often lead to hip replacement surgery.
The risk of hip fracture dramatically increases with age: among people 65 to 69, one out of every 200
falls causes a hip fracture, a number that jumps to one out of every 10 falls in people 85 and older.2
Shockingly, a fourth of those who fracture their hip die within 6 months.3
While that statistic is affected by a variety of factors, not least of which is the age of the individual
involved, hip fractures are serious injuries and all care possible should be taken to minimize the risk.
Fear of falling causes many elderly people to restrict their day-to-day activities, but such drastic steps
aren’t always needed.
Fall Prevention is Key!
Many falls can be avoided by taking action to secure areas in and around the home, allowing people to
continue to lead the lives they want to without fear.
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.
The infographic below summarizes 1o key ways to avoid falling in the first place.
You may want to print this and post in on your fridge and share it with loved ones.
Whatever you do, “Please Don’t Fall and Break Your Hip”!
Heed these precautions to avoid slips, trips and falls!
Infographic courtesy of the Recall Center
Have you or a loved one fallen?
Are you taking precautions to prevent falls?
What have you done to prevent injuries from falls?
Share your thoughts and experiences with us.
“Shared at Turn it Up Tuesday”
“Shared on Tuesdays with a Twist”
Deborah, this is so important. Most times we do not realize the impact it has on the elderly until it happens to our parents!
Thanks so much for sharing.
Yours Truly,
Frantastically Fran
Hi Fran,
I am so delighted that you find this of interest. Yes, we must help people to avoid falls before it is too late. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. I appreciate it.
My mother-in-law fell just a couple of weeks ago changing her pants in the middle of the night. She fractured the bone and completely separated the joint. Rehab is supposed to start this week.
This is a wonderfully informative post about an important topic. I am glad you put it on Motivational Monday for me to find. I plan to share some of the tips with my parents.