Does a little slip or an unintended sit-down matter? While this does count as a fall, often the person will attribute a stumble, slip or trip to something in the environment. However any unintended sudden coming to rest at a lower level is a fall. Often there is another reason such as vision, balance or dizziness behind the fall.
Research indicates falls happen at any age, however falling when you are older is not the same as when you are young. A little slump to the floor for an older person can cause a fracture, and even with minor injuries it’s often hard to get up. There is also the body’s unconscious protective behaviour after a fall, that henceforth limits what someone will do, in an unconscious attempt to stay safer. While this may help during the recovery period it can persist long afterwards, affecting normal daily activities and predisposing to further falls as the person becomes weaker and less confident.
If you or someone you know stumbles or trips over things easily, be aware that these are falls or near-misses and there is a risk of a more serious fall. The good news is that it’s not too late to take positive action to start decreasing the risk through a safe falls prevention program. If you would like more information, contact us at www.jasminehealthcare.com.au. Stay safe and on your feet – from the Jasmine team.