What causes healthy elderly to pass away after a fall?

Author: Unspecified Reviewer: Unspecified Curator: Unspecified Production/Organizational Information: Unspecified Title: What causes healthy elderly to pass away after a fall? Introduction: Article offers fall prevention and care tips for older adults to raise safety awareness and help families manage risks. Keywords: ['Elderly health', 'Preventive Medicine'] Main text: Some people can fall, brush off their pants, and stand up without any issues. However, for some individuals, especially the elderly, a single fall can lead to fractures and even trigger multiple health problems, putting their lives in jeopardy.

Why are elderly people prone to falling? A study published in the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology by Southeast University and the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed over 80,000 cases of unintentional falls among the elderly in Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2021. The results revealed an increasing trend in fall cases among individuals aged 60 and above. Although the incidence of falls in the age groups of 70 and 80 showed a declining trend, their risk of falling was still 1.3 times and 2.6 times higher, respectively, than that of those aged 60 and above. Additionally, the number of fall cases among women aged 60 and above consistently exceeded that of men, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.4.

1. Aging leads to a decline in coordination. As people grow older, especially after the age of 60, there is a gradual loss of bone density and muscle mass, degenerative changes occur in connective tissues and joints, and gait stability, as well as vision and hearing, deteriorates. This results in a decrease in bodily flexibility and coordination.

Long-term medication can lead to slowed reactions in some elderly individuals. Prolonged use of antihypertensive drugs, antidiabetic medications, antipsychotics, and pain relievers may affect consciousness. This can result in symptoms like reduced sensory nerve responsiveness, orthostatic hypotension, depression, anxiety, and social isolation, leading to insufficient response and adjustment to the external environment, which increases the risk of falls.

Due to the influence of bodily hormones, most women experience a decline in estrogen levels after the age of 50, which leads to a higher risk of osteoporosis compared to men, resulting in a greater incidence of falls.

At these moments, the elderly are most likely to fall!

From the activities observed during falls, the top five ranked from 2006 to 2014 were recreational activities, housework/study, work, transport by vehicle, and sports activities. The top five from 2015 to 2021 were recreational activities, housework/study, walking, daily living activities, and transport by vehicle.

Professor Yu Pu-lin from the National Center for Geriatrics and Beijing Hospital said, "It is clear that the lifestyle and pace of life for the elderly are changing. In the past, they spent a lot of time at home, but now the duration of outdoor exercise and leisure activities is increasing. This is a good thing, indicating that older adults are engaging in more exercise and participating more in society. On the other hand, outdoor activities have also increased the risk of falls."

In fact, elderly individuals are not only prone to injuries during outdoor activities but can also easily fall in the home, which many people perceive as the safest place. The most common incidents occur when they slip and fall in the bathroom, or when they rise or squat unsteadily while using the toilet. They may also suffer falls when getting out of bed and not finding their balance. Elderly individuals should slow down their movements and pay attention to several moments when they are more likely to fall:

Once you fall and are bedridden, complications can quickly "come knocking."

If elderly individuals remain bedridden for a long time after a fall, it may lead to pulmonary infections, urinary tract infections, and deep vein thrombosis. It can also accelerate the loss of bone density and muscle mass, as well as cause complications like pressure sores, which greatly impacts their quality of life and may even shorten their lifespan.

Falling is the result of a combination of declining functions in various aspects of the body. The care burden that arises after a fall often becomes a catalyst for family conflicts and economic pressure, ultimately leading to the situation where "one person falls, the whole family is unbalanced." Monitoring by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found that among elderly individuals who fall, moderate to severe injuries account for 37.22%, and after treatment in outpatient or emergency departments, 22.49% of elderly patients require hospitalization.

Yu Ping stated that falls among the elderly leading to hip fractures are characterized by high mortality rates, prolonged hospital stays, significant medical expenses, and a tendency to cause severe disabilities and loss of independence. Each year, the direct medical costs of falls among the elderly in our country exceed 5 billion yuan, with the disease burden ranging from 16 billion to 80 billion yuan. Falls have become a major public health issue that our country urgently needs to address.

Five Things That Keep the Elderly Safe from Harm

Home modifications for fall prevention are essential, as the home is the primary location where elderly individuals experience falls. It is important to implement effective designs and renovations aimed at preventing such incidents at home.

Older adults should supplement their diet with high-quality protein, which can include moderate amounts of eggs and lean meat. They should also reasonably supplement with nutrients that strengthen bones, such as calcium and vitamin D. For elderly individuals with coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes, it is important to monitor blood pressure and blood sugar levels, take medication on time, and maintain a diet low in salt, oil, and sugar. They should avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, ensure adequate sleep, and stay active to maintain better focus and energy.

3. Strengthen daily exercise by engaging in activities such as Tai Chi and square dancing. You can also incorporate some strength training by practicing movements like side kicks, alternating forward lunges, single-leg stands, seated leg raises, and bending to touch your toes, which can help increase lower body muscle strength and prevent falls.

4. When dressing, it is important to take precautions against slips and falls. Try to avoid going out in rainy or snowy weather. If you must go out, wear non-slip and comfortable shoes and socks. Clothing should not be overly loose or complicated in design, as flowing ribbons and excessive decorations can easily cause elderly individuals to trip. It is advisable to carry a personal alarm to seek help quickly in case of a fall.

Older adults who are at a higher risk of falling should learn the correct falling posture to minimize injuries. According to Pu Lin, when an elderly person is about to fall, they should try to bend their knees, tuck in their chin, and keep their arms close to their chest, falling toward the outer thigh. Once the upper body hits the ground, they should roll toward their torso and upper back. If someone sees the elderly person fall, they should not rush to help, as doing so could cause secondary injuries if there are fractures or brain hemorrhages. It is recommended to immediately call emergency services at 120 and protect the elder, monitoring their condition closely.

In addition to being careful about falls, elderly people should also pay attention to these two matters.

1. Beware of the decreased physical coordination in the elderly, which may lead to unsteady walking and frequent ankle sprains. Many elderly individuals do not consider ankle sprains to be serious, which is actually a misconception. If an ankle sprain does not receive timely and proper treatment, it can very likely lead to ankle joint instability, resulting in habitual sprains.

Correct actions after a sprained ankle: Stop walking or exercising immediately, and take a seated or lying position while elevating the injured leg to promote venous return. Apply a cold compress right away, using an ice pack or a cool towel, to constrict blood vessels, reduce exudation, and alleviate swelling. For the first 48 hours after the injury, apply the compress every 2 to 3 hours for 15 to 20 minutes each time. If ankle instability has already occurred, you can enhance stability by practicing single-leg standing (stand on one leg without assistance for 30 seconds, then switch legs, and repeat for 6 cycles) and alternating between standing on tiptoes and heels (while seated on a high chair with your feet about 5 centimeters off the ground, rhythmically touch the ground with your toes and heels alternately, completing 3 cycles of 50 repetitions for each foot).

2. Beware of fractures. Many older adults suffer from osteoporosis and joint diseases, and even minor external forces during daily activities can lead to fractures. Older adults should maintain a calm mindset after sustaining a fracture. Some less severe fractures do not require surgery; they can heal through good protective measures such as wearing a cast, using braces, and engaging in functional rehabilitation.

However, improper handling should be avoided: Do not massage—many elderly individuals instinctively massage the painful area after a fracture, which may cause a non-dislocated fracture to become dislocated, resulting in secondary injuries; do not apply heat—right after an injury, a large number of capillaries rupture, and tissue fluid leakage can lead to swelling and inflammation. Heat application will accelerate blood circulation, worsen the rupture of blood vessels, and increase swelling at the fracture site.

It is often said that it takes a hundred days to heal muscle and bone injuries. Young people may take around three months to fully recover from fractures, while older adults generally have a longer recovery period. If an elderly person also has diabetes, their wound healing will be even slower, potentially requiring at least four months or more of conservative treatment before they can return to normal activities.

The reaction ability, balance, and muscle strength of the elderly are not as good as they used to be. Even those elderly individuals with better physical fitness are inevitably at risk of accidents such as falls, sprains, and fractures. Therefore, elderly people should be especially cautious.

As people age, the decline in various physical functions among the elderly is inevitable. The younger generation should provide sufficient care and attention to the elderly. Once an elderly person is found to have fallen, it is important to take it seriously and address the situation promptly.