Lee Memorial, SHARE Club host seminar on falling
For older people, nothing can be more alarming than a fall, especially if they’re home alone. Falls can lead to injury and can even be fatal.
But there are ways to prevent them, and a seminar at the North Fort Myers Recreation Center, presented by the SHARE Club and the Lee Memorial Health System, explained to seniors the importance of balance and the factors that impact balance and the chances of having a fall.
Nathalie Grondon, a physical therapist at LMHS, told the audience about how seniors can adapt to their environment and the signs of balance loss.
“There are signs that point to somebody having difficulty with their balance and do not to wait to have a fall before you do something about it,” Grondon said.
There are major areas that affect balance, including environmental, whether it be indoors or outdoors, and medical conditions that cause issues.
During her presentation, Grondin discussed how one’s center of gravity and base of support equals maintaining an upright position.
She also said the mind must input process information before the muscles can provide output to keep one’s balance.
Grondon said once someone falls, they can become very fearful, which could set off a snowball effect where an elderly person stops walking altogether.
A sedentary lifestyle leads to social isolation, fewer social activities and loss of confidence, Grondin said.
“If they stop being active that could create more risk of falling because they lose strength, endurance, flexibility and their confidence and skills,” Grondon said. “That’s where we come in, do an evaluation on all those areas that affect their balance and work on the weakest area.”
They will also give patients balance exercises tailored to the person’s needs, with one’s balance being only as good as its weakest link, Grondin said.
That’s why it’s important for seniors to maintain their strength to be able to get up if you do experience a fall because half of them cannot get up themselves, Grondin said.
In the event of a fall, especially if you’re alone at home, Grondin suggests having a plan. Carrying a cell phone can help, although she said even that isn’t foolproof.
“You have to be able to call for help somehow. If you’re alone, a medical alert system is the way to go,” Grondin said. “What if your cell phone is charging and you can’t crawl over there.”
As a result, many seniors experience what is called a “long lie,” where they lay helplessly for hours and develop complications and perhaps even die as a result.
Grondin said it is especially a problem in Southwest Florida, where many retirees live.
Seniors should also evaluate the circumstances of the fall and find ways to eliminate them, Grondin said.
They also need to know the signs of imbalance, which include the need to touch or hold and object or person, the tendency to keep your feet further apart, avoiding uneven surfaces, difficulty in challenging environments or when you need to change directions, slow walking speed, no head movements in standing positions with head down, difficulty with stairs and insecurity in the open.