Preventing falls

Melissa Strle
Times Reporter

 

The Injury Prevention Centre at the University of Alberta is at the end of its annual November “finding balance” campaign, which focuses on fall prevention, including helping people assess the likelihood of falls and educating in preventative methods.
According to Janice Lassen, physical therapist at Strathmore District Health Services, the campaign focused on three major areas this year: “Keeping active, review your medications and check your vision.
“The important theme that we are trying to get across to people this year is that it’s not a normal part of aging, so don’t just accept it,” said Lassen.
During November, Lassen did a few presentations in Strathmore at Sagewood Care Facility and Wheatland Lodge to help educate seniors about falls prevention.
There are several factors that contribute to falls, and some of the factors can be modified while others cannot.
Lassen said it is important to stay active.
“The stronger your muscles are, the sharper your balance reactions are; that lowers your risk of falling,” she said.
Staying active keeps you from entering into a “vicious cycle,” said Lassen. The cycle starts when you’re inactive, so you get weaker and then don’t want to go out as much, and from there, you can get weaker still.
It is important to interrupt this cycle.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, we can find a way for you to do something,” she noted.
Doctors and physical therapists can help to modify activities, or provide walkers or some sort of equipment to make walking safer.
“Pretty well everybody can do some form of exercise,” said Lassen.
Keeping active can involve 30 minutes of activity every day for some, or compacting exercise into 10 minutes for others. Alternatively, sometimes seniors or others are simply encouraged to be on their feet.
Vision also plays an important role in falls prevention and balance, and people are encouraged to keep annual eye exams and medical prescriptions up-to-date. In Alberta, annual eye exams are free for people over 65 years of age.
The last focus this year was on reviewing medications. “We encourage people, at least on an annual basis, to sit down with their doctor or their pharmacist and just go through their list of medications,” said Lassen.
Common questions to ask include: are there still conditions I need to be treated for? Is the dosage appropriate? Has my blood pressure changed?
“We do know from research that regardless of what type of medications you are on, if you’re on four or more [medications], you’re at a higher risk for falling,” said Lassen.
The Strathmore hospital has a fall prevention clinic that requires a doctor’s referral to access. Participants receive a comprehensive assessment from either an occupational therapist or a physical therapist. From that, a plan is developed to help modify fall risk. This could include exercises that focus on strength and incorporate standing.
“Research is showing that if you focus on strength and balance in more of a standing position [than seated or lying down], you can have an effect on people’s fall risk and reduce it,” said Lassen, who added she can help develop individualized programs in a challenging yet safe environment.
Lassen encourages people to talk to somebody about falls prevention: a doctor, nurse or family member. “More than likely there are some factors that can be modified and we can reduce your risk of falling,” said Lassen.
Lassen said people may be fearful of talking about falls because they’re worried that family members may force them to move or change their circumstances. “But if you keep falling, eventually you might end up injuring yourself,” she noted.
The program that Lassen runs has been around for approximately three years. She said she has seen improvements in fall screening assessments and some people have decreased their risks.
“But, it usually required some active participation on their part in an exercise program. We help guide them through that and coach them along the way,” said Lassen.
“We have seen changes and improvements at three months and six months.”
Visit findingbalancealberta.ca to find out more about falls prevention.