Luxor Nursing and Rehab at Mills Pond on What Can Happen After a Fall.

Naturally, we all would like to remain independent for as long as possible. However, falls are one of the leading causes of seniors losing their independence, as one out of every four people age 65 or older fall each year.

To help with that, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a program called STEADI — Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries.

The program is designed for both patients and medical providers to help with fall risk assessments, how to cut back on risk factors, and more.

Another startling statistic is that of the millions of seniors that fall every year, less than half tell their doctor.

Needless to say, this is not a good thing to withhold from your doctor. Even if there’s no obvious sign of injury, there is plenty to consider and a number of things that can happen after a fall. Luxor Nursing and Rehab at Mills Pond would like to detail what you need to be on the lookout for after a fall.

• Falls can cause broken bones (wrist, arm, and ankle are the most common), along with hip fractures. Over 300,000 older people are hospitalized each year in the U.S. for broken hips.
• Falls can cause head injuries. This is especially a concern if the person is on certain medication like blood thinners. Even if there’s no immediate sign of injury, if someone falls and hits their head, they need to see a doctor right away. Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
• Even if a person escapes serious injury in a fall, there could be a lasting psychological effect. A person may become afraid of falling and become less active. This can cause overall body weakness and increase the risk of another fall.