Balance issues can significantly impact older adults and people with disabilities, making it challenging for them to maintain stability and navigate their environment safely. Early signs of balance issues, such as muscle weakness, sensory impairment, neurological disorders, etc. can vary depending on the underlying causes and individual circumstances. Fall Prevention Awareness Day, observed on September 22nd, is an important time for recognizing signs early on to manage and mitigate risks associated with injuries due to falls.
Managing balance issues often involves a multi-faceted approach that may include medical treatment, in-home assistance, mobility assistance devices, home modifications, and lifestyle adjustments. To start the process of identifying risks associated with balance issues, older adults and individuals with disabilities should work closely with healthcare professionals and organizations, such as UDS, specializing in the unique needs of these individuals to address the underlying causes or the environmental impact surrounding their balance problems. This collaborative effort can assist in developing strategies to improve mobility and safety.
Chronic and Acute Medical Conditions – Reducing the Risk of Falls with Medical Support
Acute medical conditions typically come on suddenly such as a heart attack, stroke, or paralysis from a serious accident, and often cause an individual to lose normal body function and movement.
Chronic medical conditions refer to longer-term health conditions that are present at birth or develop slowly and persist over an extended period, often for the rest of a person’s life. These conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, or Parkinson’s disease may not be curable but can be managed with appropriate medical care, lifestyle changes, and ongoing treatment.
Both individuals with acute and chronic conditions are at greater risk of falls and accidents due to the unstable and often weakened nature of their muscular, skeletal, and/or nervous system, or from neuro-muscular dysfunction that arises due to mental decline or nerve impairment. Understanding the difference between acute and chronic medical conditions can help a person understand how to navigate appropriate interventions and management support to reduce the risk of falls.
Having regular check-ups with one’s doctor is an important prevention and management step that helps recognize any changes in a person’s health. Making appropriate changes in medication (if needed), recommending support specialists such as physical therapists, nutritionists, and targeted exercises, etc., that strengthen weaknesses, enhance overall health, and recommendations for enhancing one’s home environment, can reduce one’s chance of falling.
While chronic and acute medical conditions may differ in their etiology, both can require longer-term adjustments and modifications to a person’s care and living environment. Certain services such as personal home care provide trained medical professionals familiar with the unique needs of a person’s disability to be on hand to reduce the risk of someone falling due to weakness, instability, or cognitive dysfunction. These professionals can identify and make recommendations to accommodate any new signs and symptoms that may arise immediately or over time.
Side Effects of Medication
People take medication for many reasons such as treating acute medical flare-ups, providing symptoms of relief, controlling chronic conditions, supplementing nutritional deficiencies, and ultimately improving a sense of health and well-being. Whether they are prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, medication can have side effects that increase the risk of tripping and falling, especially among older adults or individuals with disabilities.
Recognizing how medication can affect one’s body and mind is important to reducing potential trips and falls. Some potential side effects from medication include:
Muscle relaxants and pain medications can cause muscle weakness and susceptibility to muscles giving out;
Low blood pressure pills can cause light-headedness if someone gets up too fast;
Sedatives may cause dizziness and/or cognitive dysfunction leading to confusion and impaired judgment;
Medications can cause blurred or distorted vision increasing tripping risk;
Taking multiple medications for a variety of health concerns can increase the risk of drug interference and additional side effects.
There are several preventive measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of falling related to medication. One’s doctor or pharmacist can determine possible side effects the drugs are having on movements and behavior. If there are any potential negative drug interactions between medications the doctor may be able to adjust the timing or dosage. Taking medication as prescribed and at the correct time to prevent overdosing or underdosing is also important in preventing any unwanted effects that put someone at risk of falling.
If one finds that the medication is necessary to manage their condition, yet interferes with their normal daily function, implementing strategies at home may mitigate risks associated with medication side effects. Use assistive devices such as a cane or walker to provide additional stability; add extra lighting if vision is being distorted; remove tripping hazards such as loose rugs or cords and add no-slip mats strategically around the room; install sturdy bars for extra hand-holds; keep frequently used items in easy to reach places to avoid over-reaching or bending; and consider a medical device system to call for help in case of a fall.
Nutrition, Diet, and Hydration
The triad of nutrition, diet, and hydration may be commonly overlooked components to keeping the body strong and healthy. By considering the foods one eats – incorporating the appropriate balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats – and maintaining appropriate hydration levels – based on individual body weight and composition – is an important measure to help older adults and people with disabilities prevent falls.
Missing essential nutrients in one’s diet can develop into malnutrition leading to muscle atrophy and weakness. Weakened muscles may not be able to support the body effectively during movements, increasing the risk of falls. Additionally, lack of proper nutrition can result in reduced energy levels, brain ‘fog’, and slower reaction times, making it more difficult to recover from balance disturbances. Vitamin deficiencies like vitamin D and calcium can cause decreased bone density making bones more susceptible to fractures in the event of a fall.
Many people aren’t aware of the negative impact dehydration can have on the body. Dehydration can cause electrolyte imbalances which are essential to proper muscle function. Muscles may cramp or become weak, affecting balance and coordination. It can also lead to low blood pressure, causing dizziness and lightheadedness when standing up. Dehydration can impact cognitive functioning creating confusion and difficulty concentrating – symptoms that make it harder to navigate one’s environment safely. Lack of proper hydration can also affect the lubrication of joints, leading to joint stiffness and reduced range of motion, making one unsteady.
Preventing malnutrition and dehydration through proper food and fluid intake is an essential part of maintaining one’s overall health and reducing the risk of falls. Maintaining a balanced diet rich in nutrition, consuming enough fluids throughout the day, and monitoring signs of malnutrition and dehydration can mitigate the risks associated with falls.
Circulation and Exercise
Regular exercise that incorporates a combination of strength, cardiovascular, flexibility, and balance conditioning helps reduce the risk of falling for adults and individuals with disabilities. Focused weight-bearing exercise such as walking and strength training contributes to one’s ability to move about more steadily and can improve bone density – a particular concern for older and individuals prone to fractures.
Lower-impact exercises such as stationary bicycling and swimming improve aerobic endurance. Gentle movements incorporated in tai-chi and yoga can enhance and increase circulation in the joints and enhance balance and flexibility. These movements also improve a person’s proprioception – one’s ability to feel their body in relationship to their surroundings – contributing to improved balance.
Home Environments
Home environments aren’t always adequately designed to accommodate individuals with mobility issues including older adults and individuals with disabilities. Consider making appropriate modifications to a person’s living space in line with their changing medical needs. Adding more hand-bars along the walls, providing wheelchair-accessible areas, and incorporating slip-free flooring, can help reduce the risk of falls. If there are steps or uneven surfaces at entranceways, installing ramps or stairlifts can ensure smooth transitions between different levels of the home.
Proper lighting is essential to reduce the risk of falls and tripping. One way to do that is to replace any low-light bulbs with brighter bulbs in all areas including hallways, staircases, and outdoor areas, so they are well-lit. Installing motion-activated lights can illuminate dark areas at night to reduce the risk of misstepping and falling. Keeping the home in good repair by replacing floorboards, cracked sidewalks, and uneven surfaces is a good way to avoid unnecessary falls.
Assessing one’s home for potential fall risks can help to recognize what areas can be specifically modified to update, reconstruct, and create a more user-friendly and safe living environment for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Having an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) certified contractor can be a valuable resource for home modifications aimed at fall prevention. These contractors are knowledgeable about accessibility and safety standards and can apply their expertise to create a safer living environment for individuals with mobility challenges. Modifying your house with our Home Accessibility Checklist is a helpful resource from UDS that can help one start the process.
A Step Forward: The Path to Safety with UDS
While no environment can be foolproof in putting older adults and individuals with disabilities at risk for falls, there are many ways to put safeguards into place to reduce the chances. Taking a holistic approach by considering physical modifications to one’s living space, recognizing acute and chronic conditions, addressing medical issues, identifying medication side effects, and improving one’s overall health through diet and exercise can be the first ‘steps’ in creating a pathway to safety.
UDS takes great pride in providing an all-around approach by working with personal home caregivers and medical professionals who support older adults and individuals with disabilities in creating, designing, and supporting them with their overall health and wellness needs. UDS works closely with ADA-specialized contractors to ensure that home modification requirements are done correctly and are best suited to meet each person’s unique needs. Reduce a loved one’s risk of falling by working with the devoted and caring team at UDS.
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