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HEALTH: Preventing Falls Among Older Adults

Published

7 years ago

January 26, 2017

Dr. Mike Kern, John Muir Health

Did you know that falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “one-fourth of Americans aged 65+ falls each year.”

Falls, particularly among older people, are serious and frequently cause injury as people in this age group are often more fragile to begin with, magnifying any injury that occurs. When we’re young, we have the ability and resiliency to bounce-back quickly from minor spills or falls. Such is not the case as we get older, when even minor falls can cause significant injuries.

The patients I most commonly come into contact with who have experienced falls are older adults, primarily women, those with cognitive/balance problems, and those who have fallen before. While others are certainly prone to falling, these are the individuals I routinely see as high risk.

As you might imagine, there are a number of injuries an older person may sustain as a result of a fall. The most common is bruising and, more alarming and obviously debilitating, fractured hips. Other injuries we see as a result of older adults falling include leg and arm fractures, rib fractures, and head injuries. Death is rare, but not entirely uncommon.

There are a number of factors that can cause falls among older people including various medical conditions, medications, illness, lack of physical activity, home hazards such as slippery rugs or getting out of the tub or shower, and arthritis of the hip or knee which can certainly increase the chance of falling. Cognitive impairments such as a decline in one’s memory, motor or thinking skills may also place a person at greater risk for falling. Certain medications such as tranquilizers and high blood pressure medications can also increase the risk of falling.

Symptoms such as dizziness and/or lightheadedness, which can be brought on by a number of circumstances, can also lead to falling. Falls, however, can also be indicative of an underlying, more serious illness such as diabetes, Parkinson’s or even the presence of chronic musculoskeletal injuries. It’s a good idea to visit your doctor for a “fall screening” if you experience any of these symptoms.

Fortunately, there are some easy changes that older adults can make to help prevent falls. Simple things such as choice of footwear can make all the difference in the world. I recommend shoes with thin, hard soles for my patients. These types of soles provide stability, firmness and balance when walking. Running shoes are also quite popular among older folks for the comfort and firm grip they offer. I discourage patients from walking around in socks and bare feet, which tend to greatly increase the risk of slipping and falling.

Physical activity is also critical to keeping bones and joints strong and preventing falls. Physically active older adults are much less at risk for falls primarily because of their leg strength. When evaluating a person for risk of falling, we typically look at how long it takes the individual to get up from a seated position to walking. The longer it takes for someone to ‘get up and go’, the greater the risk he or she is for falling.

If one of my patients is identified as being at a higher than average risk for falls, I recommend lab tests that check for conditions which may increase the risk for falls.

The tests include those for hemoglobin, glucose, kidney function and vitamin D. If someone is deficient in vitamin D, for instance, treatment with supplements can go a long way towards improving his or her condition and decreasing their risk of a fall.

In addition, there are a number of preventative measures people can take to make their homes safe. High risk older adults should have their homes evaluated by an occupational therapist to ensure they are equipped with safety features such as rails, ramps and rubber-gripped bath/shower mats and any hazards, such as slippery throw rugs, are removed. An occupational therapist may even suggest walking/mobility devices and/or canes for added precaution.

I’m often asked when someone should consult their doctor about falls. I recommend that all older adults be screened for fall risk. People with vision or hearing problems or those who have fallen at least once, are particularly at risk and should be evaluated.

If you have been falling recently, experiencing balance problems or have other concerns, I encourage you to see your doctor immediately. Falls, and their underlying symptoms, are not something to take lightly. Stay healthy!

Dr. Mike Kern is a John Muir Health family doctor, practicing along with Dr. Elsa Tsutaoka.

Dr. Kern & Tsutaoka’s office is located at 3318 Elm St. in Oakland and open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, as well as Tuesday evening and Saturday morning.

To schedule an appointment, call (510) 985-3620.

Learn more about them at www.johnmuirhealth.com/findadoctor.

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Activism

WOMEN IMPACTING THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

Published

23 hours ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Juanita Matthews

Sister Juanita Matthews

55 Years with Oakland Public School District

The Teacher, Mother, Community Outreach Champion, And Child of God

Juanita Matthews, better known as “Sister Teacher,” is a walking Bible scholar. She moved to California from the great state of Arkansas in 1971. Sister Teacher has a passion for teaching. She has been a member of Bible Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church since 1971. She followed her passion for teaching, and in 1977 became the lead teacher for Adult Class #6. Her motto still today is “Once My Student, Always My Student”.

Beyond her remarkable love for the Lord, Sister Teacher has showcased her love for teaching by working for the Oakland Unified School District for 55 years, all but four of those years spent at Emerson Elementary and Child Development School. She truly cares about her students, making sure they have the tools/supplies needed to learn either at OUSD or Bible Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

She’s also had a “Clothes Closet Ministry” for 51 years, making sure her students have sufficient clothing for school. The Clothes Closet Ministry extends past her students, she has been clothing the community for over 50 years as well. She loves the Lord and is a servant on a mission. She is a loving mother to two beautiful children, Sandra and Andre. This is the impact this woman of God has on her church and the community.

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Bay Area

Vivian Coit, 98

Vivian Coit, a proud Dallas, Texas native made her way to the great state of California in 1943. She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother.

Published

23 hours ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Vivian Coit

Celebrating A Life Well Lived

Sept. 15, 1925 ~ March 30, 2024

Vivian Coit, a proud Dallas, Texas native made her way to the great state of California in 1943. She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother.

In her 98 years, she had various jobs – San Francisco Naval Shipyard, elevator operator, housekeeping, a salesclerk, and supervisor for the United States Postal Service. After 27 years of service with the United States Postal Service, she retired with numerous commendations. She was a lifetime member of the National Council of Negro Women. and a devoted member of the Washington/Lincoln Alumni Association of Dallas, Texas.

On April 20 at 10:00 a.m., a life well-lived will be celebrated at Beebe Memorial Cathedral CME Church, 3900 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA under the leadership of Rev. Antoine Shyne.

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Commentary

Opinion: Surviving the Earthquake, an Eclipse and “Emil Amok.”

Last Friday, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake shook New York City, reported as the “biggest earthquake with an epicenter in the NYC area since 1884” when a 5.2 quake hit. A bit bigger. The last quake similar to Friday’s was a 4.9 in 1783.Alexander Hamilton felt it — 241 years ago. That’s why New Yorkers were freaking out on Friday. They were in the room where it happens.

Published

23 hours ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

In New York City, the eclipse was about 90 percent visible. Good enough for me. Though a full solar eclipse is a celestial rarity, blockages of any sort aren’t generally celebrated. My one-man play is about growing up with the eclipsed history of American Filipinos and how I struggle to unblock all that.

By Emil Guillermo

I’m a Northern Californian in New York City for the next few weeks, doing my one-man show, “Emil Amok, Lost NPR Host, Wiley Filipino, Vegan Transdad.”

I must like performing in the wake of Mother Nature.

Alexander Hamilton felt it — 241 years ago.

That’s why New Yorkers were freaking out on Friday. They were in the room where it happens.

And it just doesn’t happen that often.

Beyonce singing country music happens more frequently.

When I felt New York shake last week, it reminded me of a time in a San Francisco TV newsroom when editors fretted about a lack of news an hour before showtime.

Then the office carpeting moved for a good ten seconds, and the news gods gave us our lead story.

On Friday when it happened in NYC, I noticed the lines in the carpeting in my room wiggling. But I thought it was from a raucous hotel worker vacuuming nearby.

I didn’t even think earthquake. In New York?

I just went about my business as if nothing had happened. After living near fault lines all my life, I was taking things for granted.

Considering the age of structures in New York, I should have been even more concerned about falling objects inside (shelves, stuff on walls) and outside buildings (signs, scaffolding), fire hazards from possible gas leaks, and then I should have looked for others on my floor and in the hotel lobby to confirm or aid or tell stories.

Of course, as a Californian who has lived through and covered quakes in the 4 to 6 magnitude range, I tried to calm down any traumatized New Yorker I encountered by taking full responsibility for bringing in the quake from the Bay Area.

I reassured them things would be all right, and then let them know that 4.8s are nothing.

And then I invited them to my consoling post-Earthquake performance of “Emil Amok, Lost NPR Host…”

It was the night of the eclipse.

ECLIPSING THE ECLIPSE

For example, did you know the first Filipinos actually arrived to what is now California in 1587? That’s 33 years before the Pilgrims arrived in America on the other coast, but few know the Filipino history which has been totally eclipsed.

I was in Battery Park sitting on a bench and there was a sense of community as people all came to look up. A young woman sitting next to me had a filter for a cell phone camera. We began talking and she let me use it. That filter enabled me to take a picture of the main event with my iPhone.

For helping me see, I invited her and her boyfriend to come see my show.

Coincidentally, she was from Plymouth, Massachusetts, near the rock that says the year the Pilgrims landed in 1620.

In my show she learned the truth. The Pilgrims were second.

History unblocked. But it took a solar eclipse.

Next one in 2044? We have a lot more unblocking to do.

If you’re in New York come see my show, Sat. April 13th, 5:20 pm Eastern; Fri. April 19, 8:10 pm Eastern; and Sun. April 21st 5:20 pm Eastern.

You can also livestream the show. Get tickets at www.amok.com/tickets

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a mini-talk show on YouTube.com/@emilamok1. He wishes all his readers a Happy Easter!