Unwrapping the 4 Major Causes of Slips and Falls among the Elderly Population

Slip and fall accidents have become common occurrences among seniors. These accidents’ results range from mild to severe, depending on the impact and the ground’s condition. Many elderly people have incurred severe injuries from slips and falls, with some even losing their lives.

Compensation for these accidents is available, but you must be ready to provide enough evidence that you or your loved one incurred injuries after the fall. In this article, you’ll learn about four leading causes of slip and fall accidents among seniors and how to minimize these risks.

1.     Poorly Constructed Homes

Most slip-and-fall accidents happen in the victims’ homes and residential properties. Falling down a staircase ranks among the most prevalent slips and falls. Many homes today have more than one floor, meaning the only way to access the top rooms is via a staircase. Most homeowners and builders don’t understand the necessity of constructing stable and sturdy staircases, a risk factor for slips and falls.

Bathrooms have also become major places where these accidents happen. Bathrooms are mostly moist and slippery, primarily due to the water and soap presence. Several seniors have got severe injuries from such accidents. You can contact a slip and fall injury law firm for better guidance on protecting your loved one from slips and falls at home.

2.     Weak Muscles

People experience substantial body changes as they grow, weakened muscles being one of the top transformations. You can’t compare a senior’s muscles with a younger person. As the muscles weaken, they adversely affect an elder’s strength and balance. This makes it more challenging to handle daily activities, including standing for extended periods.

When discussing weak muscles and slip-and-fall accidents, you shouldn’t only consider leg muscles. Nevertheless, aging may contribute to weak muscles, but it isn’t the only factor. A lack of exercise and health conditions, such as arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatic, also play significant roles in weakening your muscles.

3.     Medication

Several health conditions accompany old age. Seniors must visit a doctor and get a proper prescription for condition treatment or management. Unfortunately, some of these medications have undesirable side effects, such as making the patient experience dizziness and drowsiness. Human health organizations have confirmed that such side effects also fall under the leading causes of slip and fall accidents among older people.

This makes it necessary to understand different medications and their side effects. You can gather this information from a health practitioner who’ll also guide you on consuming these medications. Nevertheless, the best remedy here is to avoid standing up or walking around after taking medicine that makes you drowsy or dizzy. It’s essential to sit down until these side effects wear out.

4.     Memory Loss and Poor Decision-Making

Elderly people experience memory loss, confusion, and decision-making challenges due to mental conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. These conditions are risk factors when talking about slip and fall accidents because the individual can’t judge risky situations.

For instance, an individual with dementia may not understand the risk of walking on a wet floor or cascading a slippery staircase. These misjudgments make it hard to realize the imminent danger of such hazardous places. That’s why seniors should be keen when walking around or at least have someone close to monitor their movements and activities.

Being an elderly person has its fair share of pride but comes with several risk factors. Slips and falls rank among the top risks that many seniors face in the modern world. Understanding what causes these accidents should top your list, especially when you have an elderly individual to care for. The four points above cover these causes to help you understand the idea better.