Older adults who fall may break hips or wrists, suffer head injuries or serious burns, but falls also often lead to a fear of falling which can decrease mobility and independence. This is Madeline Dunstan, education coordinator with the Glennan Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Seniors who fall gradually become less and less mobile .
Falls are a common problem facing older adults.
Falling itself is not a diagnosis but a symptom of any one of a number of underlying diseases, effects of medications, and environmental hazards or obstacles that interfere with safe mobility. Older adults often have conditions that put them at risk for falling. These include poor vision because of cataracts or glaucoma, cardiovascular problems like high or low blood pressure or heart disease, lower extremity dysfunction including strokes and Parkinson's disease, poor bladder control, dementia and medication side effects. If you have fallen it is important to let your health care provider know . Your provider can evaluate your medical risk factors and take a therapeutic approach to reduce your risk of another fall.