Devices That Help Prevent Falling

Home Health Aide Digest
March/April 2008

Devices That Help Prevent Falling
By Suzanne P. Campbell MS, QRC, CRC

Thousands of older men and women fall each year and often the fall results in bone breakage. As we age, a break can be the start of more serious problems. These accidents can lead to disability and a loss of independence.

What Causes Falls?

According to the National Institute on Aging, getting older alone doesn’t make people fall. Diabetes and heart disease affect balance. So do problems with circulation, thyroid or nervous systems. Some medicines make people dizzy. Eye problems or alcohol can be factors. Any of these things can make a fall more likely.

Osteoporosis—a disease that makes bones thin and likely to break easily - can make any fall more dangerous. It is a major reason for broken bones in women past menopause. It also affects older men. When your bones are fragile even a minor fall can cause one or more bones to break. People with osteoporosis must be very careful to avoid falls.

How Can Falls Be Prevented?

Accidents seldom "just happen." Taking care of your health by exercising and getting regular eye exams and physicals may help reduce your chance of falling. Getting rid of tripping hazards in the home and wearing nonskid shoes may also help. To reduce the chances of breaking a bone if you do fall, make sure that you get enough calcium and vitamin D.

Assistive Devices Which Can Help Prevent Falls

Use of assistive devices can prevent harmful falls. These devices include canes, walkers, reachers and even cell, or portable phones. A physical or occupational therapist can help you decide which devices might be helpful and how to use them safely. Talk with your doctor about a referral for an evaluation.

Canes

A cane can help you feel steadier when you walk especially when you're in places you don't know or where walkways are uneven.

Different types of canes are available. You can purchase them from medical suppliers, local pharmacies and even stores that provide equipment for mountain climbers. There are many styles of cane handles. Some have grips made of foam or that fit the shape of your hand. There are canes that fold up, have adjustable lengths and even those with spikes on the bottom to aid travel on icy surfaces. Sand or salt spread on icy surfaces around your home will also help reduce the risk of a fall.

Be sure the length of the cane fits you well. Your elbow should be at a comfortable angle. A cane that's too short may make you unsteady. A cane that's too long is harder to use. A physical therapist can help you learn how to use your new cane properly. Some users like to decorate their canes to make them seem less utilitarian.

Walkers

If you're at risk of falling, your doctor or physical therapist might suggest using a walker. This will help you stay balanced by giving you a wide base of support.

Different types of walkers are available. Some have two wheels so the walker can’t roll away from you. These work well if you need to put weight on the walker when you move. Other walkers have four wheels and brakes for going down inclines. These can sometimes roll out of your control so be sure that you know how to use them safely.

There are many accessories to make walkers more convenient. You can add a basket, tray or pouch to carry items from place to place. These can be purchased or, less expensively, fashioned at home. For example, a child’s bicycle basket fastened safely on the front of the walker makes a handy carrier. Homemade pouches made of pretty fabric can drape nicely over the front bar and be fastened with simple snaps or buttons.

Reachers

Reachers are special grabbing tools that you can buy at many hardware or most medical supply stores. A reacher, or grabber, can also help prevent falls. By using one, you can avoid standing on a stool or chair, which may be unstable. This simple tool lets you take, or replace, lightweight items from high shelves. It can also be used to secure items you have dropped. Many are equipped with magnets on the tip for picking up small metal objects.

Phones and Monitoring Devices

Portable, or cell, telephones can also help prevent falls. Carry the phone with you from room to room. When it rings, you won't have to rush to answer it. Not rushing could avert a harmful fall. They are also handy if you are lying down. Rising suddenly to answer a call can cause a drop in blood pressure and result in dizziness.

If you are often alone at home, check out a home monitoring system service. Usually, you wear a button on a chain around your neck. If you fall or need emergency help, you just push the button to alert the service. Emergency staff is then sent to your home. You can find local "medical alarm" services in your yellow pages. Be warned, these systems are often not covered by Medicare or medical insurance.

Many States and local areas have education and/or home modification programs to help older people prevent falls. Check with your local government's health department or division of elder affairs to see if there is a program in your area.

For more complete information on simple, inexpensive repairs and changes that would make your home safer, contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Ask for a free copy of the booklet, Older Consumers Safety Checklist.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
800-638-2772 (toll-free)
800-638-8270 (TTY/toll-free)
www.cpsc.gov

Further Resources:

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4770 Buford Highway NE
MS K-65
Atlanta, GA 30341-3717
800-232-4636 (toll-free)
888-232-6348 (TTY/toll-free)
www.cdc.gov/ncipc

The National Institute on Aging offers information on health and aging including an Age Page on osteoporosis and a booklet on home safety for people with Alzheimer's disease. Contact:

National Institute on Aging Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
800-222-2225 (toll-free)
800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)
www.nia.nih.gov

The National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute on Aging provided information for this article.