How can we better prevent falls among our seniors?
In February 2022 in France, the Ministry in charge of autonomy published the Fall Prevention Plan for the Elderly based on the following premise: "Each year, 2 million falls among people over 65 are responsible for 10,000 deaths, the leading cause of accidental mortality, and more than 130,000 hospitalizations." - Brigitte Bourguignon, Fall Prevention Plan for the Elderly.
We are all aware of the numerous consequences of falls among the elderly, whether physical or psychological, but how can we better prevent them to avoid these incidents?
What is fall prevention?
Although technology continues to advance, we unfortunately do not yet have the means to predict falls as seen in science fiction movies... That said, we are already able to take action to prevent falls, but what does this concretely mean?
Fall prevention actually encompasses several target areas. As our elders age, they become increasingly susceptible to falls, which is why we refer to it as a risk, based on statistics. Indeed, 28 to 35% of people aged 65 and over fall each year, with this proportion rising to 32-42% among those aged 70 and over.
Thus, fall prevention includes everything we can do to refine the estimation of this risk, everything we can do to reduce it, and also what we can do to mitigate the consequences of falls.
What are the levers for fall prevention? (before)
• Improving fall risk diagnosis (CNRS thesis)
To address a problem, it is essential to know how to identify and detect it properly. This is why it is crucial to improve the diagnosis of fall risk for each individual. In this approach, Bluelinea has supported the very promising CIFRE thesis in collaboration with the ETIS laboratory of the University of Cergy Pontoise (France), affiliated with the CNRS, since 2018.
This thesis focuses on the creation of a device to provide an accurate diagnosis of the mobility level of elderly individuals, allowing the identification of those most at risk of falling.
• Home adaptation
In the context of extending independent living at home, it is also important to ensure that the home remains adapted to seniors. Indeed, this approach becomes all the more relevant as elderly people lose motor abilities over time. To adapt and secure one's home, one can install devices such as grab bars, non-slip floor coverings, opt for raised toilets, and more...
• Improving sensory capacity maintenance
In addition to motor impairments, sensory impairments such as vision problems are one of the causes of increased fall risk. According to a study, a person with visual impairments is 1.5 to 2 times more likely to fall than someone with good vision. Therefore, it is essential to have regular vision checks and wear appropriate equipment (glasses or contact lenses). And if you cannot travel, know that some opticians offer home visits.
What are the levers to mitigate the consequences of falls? (after)
• Teleassistance, a service that can be vital for managing severe falls
Falls can cause significant physical injuries in vulnerable individuals, greatly reducing their quality of life. Therefore, it is important to be able to receive assistance in the event of a fall.
• Rehabilitation to limit the loss of autonomy in the elderly
In addition to the direct physical consequences, falls can have a psychological impact on elderly people, especially by causing a significant loss of autonomy. Thus, post-fall rehabilitation and at-home rehabilitation contribute to regaining some level of autonomy and also help alleviate the mental burden associated with the fall. EzyGain's connected walking mats notably allow for safe at-home rehabilitation.
Fall prevention is a key issue and includes many leverage points that are important to be aware of to implement the necessary actions to ensure aging well and taking care of our elders.
