6 Ways Your Life Can Change After a Fall

Falling can be a life-changing experience, and is often simply an unfortunate consequence of aging. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Each year, millions of older people—those 65 and older—fall. In fact, more than one out of four older people falls each year, but less than half tell their doctor. Falling once doubles your chances of falling again.”¹

The best way to prevent another fall is to examine what conditions may have caused the first fall. Then you can pinpoint and focus on correcting that hazard to best reduce the risk of another fall. Here are some common causes of falls for senior citizens:

• Weakened muscles, especially in the lower body
• Poor balance
• Poor eyesight
• Diminished hearing
• Certain medications
• Low blood pressure
• Dehydration
• Clutter and tripping hazards
• Poor footwear
• Alcohol consumption
• Low calcium and vitamin D

If you have not fallen before, you may be unsure about the best course of action to take after an accident. The first step is to try and stay calm and take some deep breaths. Give yourself a moment to adjust from the shock of falling, then decide if you are hurt and need help.

If you are severely injured, it is best to get emergency responders sent right away. If you are not injured, you will still want to visit your doctor for a check-up as some injury symptoms may not appear right away. In fact, it may take hours or even days to feel the full effects of an accident.

Alert1 medical alert systems  provide peace of mind for anyone concerned about falling. These personal, button alarms ensure that you will receive an immediate response if you need help at any time of the day or night. When you press the button, an emergency response team will stay on the line with you until help arrives. Alert1 also offers fall-detection technology that automatically sends an alert to the 24/7 monitoring center when it senses a fall has occurred.

Below are just some of the ways your life may change after a fall, as well as some quick tips to avoid falling in the future.

1. Injuries

One of the main ways a fall can change your life is through injuries. According to the CDC, “One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury. Also, over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture. ”² You may end up in the hospital for some time or need to nurse your injuries at home.

If you sustain a body injury, it may take longer to heal as you get older. This is due to factors such as reduced skin elasticity, delayed inflammatory response, and some other medical conditions such as diabetes. Some common injuries you may suffer in a fall include:

• Broken bones, especially the hip, pelvis, upper arm, and wrist
• Torn ligaments
• Deep cuts
• Damaged organs

According to the CDC, “More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling, usually by falling sideways.”³ You can help prevent injuries by learning how to fall.

Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.⁴ If you sustain a head injury, your symptoms may take hours or even days to appear. Be sure to consult your doctor if you notice any of the symptoms below:

• Personality changes or strange behavior
• Excessive sleepiness
• Headaches or neck aches
• Blurred vision
• Loss of consciousness
• Vomiting

Head injuries can affect your ability to think and see clearly. Symptoms like this can significantly increase your risk of falling again. Be sure to talk to your doctor and take any necessary precautions to reduce the risk of another fall.

2. Less Free Time

After a fall, you may need more time to finish your daily tasks. This may be because you just want to be more careful or because you notice reduced flexibility. If you do sustain injuries, certain tasks can also be painful. You also might take time out of your day to tend to your injuries.

This can leave you with less free time for yourself. If lack of time is an issue, talking to your family for help or hiring a professional caregiver can be a great way to improve your quality of life.

3. Fear of Falling

Fear of falling is a common emotional change you may notice after your first fall. According to a study from Oxford Academic, “An estimated 3.5 million, or 9.6%, of older adults reported falling at least once in the past 3 months. About 36.2% of all older adults said that they were moderately or very afraid of falling.⁵

While falling can be a nerve-racking experience, it is important to keep moving and going about your daily life. If you sit more often, your muscles can deteriorate and increase your risk of falling again. If you have a fear of falling, a medical alert button can help by ensuring you can get help when you need it.

4. Feelings of Depression or Loneliness

Depression due to aging and loss of independence is yet another common emotional change. It is important to find ways to keep yourself satisfied mentally. Try to find safe activities with low fall risk that you enjoy doing, such as spending time with friends and loved ones, puzzles, knitting, fishing, exercise programs for seniors, etc.

5. You May Need Help Getting Around

If you feel weaker or have sustained any injuries, you may require some help getting around the house or running errands. If you need help moving on your own, consider hiring a professional caretaker. If you can still move about well on your own, you may just want to get a walker or a cane.

Physiotherapy is another useful solution that can help you improve your muscles and reduce the risk of injury if you do fall again. A medical alert button from Alert1 can also aid in keeping you safe and mentally confident as you continue to go about your daily activities.

6. Medical Bills

If you do sustain injuries, or visit your doctor, you may also end up with more medical bills. Fortunately, there are federal and state programs such as Medicaid that can help you access low-cost or free healthcare if you need it. Taking precautions to prevent more falls will also help you avoid more medical bills.

There are dozens of ways to reduce your risk of another fall. According to the study from Oxford Academic, regarding the seniors who reported being afraid of falling, “Few older adults who fell in the past 3 months reported making any changes to prevent future falls.”⁶ It is very important to take extra precautions to reduce the risk of falling so that you don’t make any injuries worse or continue to fall.

Here are some quick tips that can help you prevent another fall:

• Exercise your body – Keep your muscles strong so you can stay on your feet or at least reduce injuries if you do fall.
• Exercise your mind – A sharp mind can also help reduce your fall risk. Do puzzles, read, and stay social.
• Move more carefully – When you are moving about, take your time, and do your best to focus on the task at hand. This will help you avoid missteps that can lead to a fall.
• Take precautions around your home – There are many ways you can reduce fall risks around your home. Clean up any clutter that may pose as a tripping hazard, repair/remove any dangerous hazards around your home, and put bright tape on stairs or other dangerous places to help you see where edges are.
• Make sure your eyeglass prescription is up to date – Blurry vision can increase your risk of falling. Make sure to visit your eye doctor regularly and make sure your eyeglass prescription is up to date.
• Get enough sleep – Lack of sleep can make it harder to focus and increase your risk of a fall.
• Learn the side effects of your medicine – Some medicines can impact your vision, ability to think straight, and focus. Be aware of these side effects and talk to your doctor about alternatives if you experience any issues.
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink – Alcohol significantly impacts your focus and vision. Limit the amount you drink or don’t drink it at all.
• Stand up slowly – Take your time when standing up to avoid dizziness and ensure you get to your feet safely.
• Choose good footwear – Be sure to choose shoes that are comfortable and stable. Make sure they have good soles that grip the floor and keep you stable.
• Use a cane or walker if you need one – If you need help balancing, be sure to use a cane or walker to help keep you steady.
• Wear hearing aids if needed—Diminished hearing affects balance and increases the risk of falling

Even if you take multiple precautions, there is still a chance that you may fall. It only takes one misstep or a moment without full focus to make you trip. If a fall does occur, you want to know you will have the help you need to get back on your feet. A medical alert system from Alert1 will help ensure you have this help.

Alert1 offers a variety of button alarms to suit your needs. Our In-Home medical alert system can help keep you safe around your house, while the On-the-Go medical alert is useful for those who like to go out and explore the world. We also offer a fall detection option for both units. Additionally, a Home Medical Alert + On-the-Go system will give you the highest level of protection.   

Your first fall can significantly affect your life. However, there are many ways you can keep yourself safe and improve your quality of life despite this challenge. You can retain independence after a fall, and Alert1 medical alert systems can help you accomplish this task.

¹,²,³,⁴ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Feb. 2017. Important Facts about Falls. cdc.gov. Important Facts about Falls.

⁵,⁶  Boyd, Rebecca. July 2019. Falls and Fear of Falling: Burden, Beliefs and Behaviors. academic.oup.com. Falls and Fear of Falling: Burden, Beliefs and Behaviors.