Are You or a Loved One at Risk of a Fall?
At Bedford Medical Alert, we work closely with healthcare professionals, caregivers and families to provide medical alert response services to suit the needs of our clients. We are proud of the peace of mind we provide clients and their families by delivering a service that will alert EMS, or loved ones, when an individual is in need of medical assistance. Though families can’t be by the side of Mom or Dad 24/7, they feel much better knowing that help is there when it’s needed.
We receive hundreds of calls every week from seniors who have had a fall and from worried and anxious family members. We hope the following information will help families identify the factors that increase the risk of a fall and help prevent falls before they happen.
Is Your Parent or Loved One at Risk of a Fall?
According to the Public Health Canada Agency, “Seniors’ Falls in Canada: Second Report”, in Canada every year, 20-30% of our seniors will experience a fall. In Ontario, every 10 minutes at least one senior visits the Emergency Room because of a fall, and every 30 minutes at least one senior is admitted to the hospital because of a fall.
What factors will increase your risk of a fall?
Your risk of a fall will increase if you:
- Have had a fall before
- Are scared of falling
- Feel weak, tired or dizzy
- Are experiencing a tingling or numbness in your legs or feet?
- Experience problems with feet or shoes
- Have lower body weakness
- Feel unsteady, shaky or are having difficulty walking
- Have poor vision or eye-sight has changed
- Are feeling forgetful or confused
- Experience a need to rush to the bathroom
Around the home, there may be factors that will also increase your risk of a fall including the following:
- Lack of stair handrails
- Poor stair design
- Slippery or uneven surfaces
- Obstacles or tripping hazards
- Improper use of assistive devices
- Certain medications may also put you at risk of falling.
These medications include the following:
- Sleeping pills
- Seizure medications
- Pain medications
- Intravenous or IV fluids
- Laxatives
- Diuretics
If you are taking any of the above medications or your medications change to include the above, please talk to your healthcare team about how you can prevent falls.
For a full report of the Public Health Canada Agency, “Seniors’ Falls in Canada: Second Report”, and additional information that may be of help to you, please visit:
- http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/publications/public/injury-blessure/seniors_falls-chutes_aines/index-eng.php
Social and Community Services to Help You
There are many social services and community resources available for you and your family to help prevent falls in the home.
The following is a list of agencies and resources available in your community:
Falls Prevention Programs
For free classes to help maintain balance and strength or prevent falls:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/exercise-and-falls-prevention-programs
On-line Resources:
www.CentralHealthline.ca
Community Care Access Centres:
http://healthcareathome.ca/centralwest/en/Getting-Care/physiotherapy-services-for-seniors/exercise-and-falls-prevention-classes
About Bedford Medical Alert:
Proudly Canadian Owned and Operated, Bedford Medical Alert provides you or your loved one with medical alert response services for the home and on-the-go. With the push of a button, the auto-detection of a fall or the activation of GPS Go Anywhere we connect you with the help you need, when you need it.
If you would like some more information for yourself or a loved one on our medical alert response services, please call us today at 416-921-9977.