The increased risk and the devastating consequences from falling are enormous for senior citizens, and it is only compounded for someone with Alzheimer's. It is estimated that someone with Alzheimer's is 1) twice as likely to fall, and 2) more than three times more likely to fracture their hip when they fall, which leads to surgery and immobility. The rate of death following a hip fracture for those with Alzheimer's is also increased. Thus fall prevention for people with dementia is critical.
Anyone with dementia who has to regularly deal with stairs is at an increased risk of a fall which may result in a serious or life-threatening injury. A fall is often the determining cause for placement in memory care, and may result in hospice services being involved.
I can relate a number of stories from both my family and my Alzheimer's support group where things were stressful, but manageable until there was a fall. Suddenly everything changed and things would never be the same again.
For my father-in-law and my wife, it was the result of Presenilin 1 seizures. Both of them lost mobility, and my wife fractured both her shoulders when she fell. For a good friend, it all changed when he and his wife stumbled on their stairs as they were going their bedroom - fracturing his ribs and resulting in his wife being placed in memory care for a few months before she passed away.
Caregivers need to be aware and take steps to reduce the risk of injury from a fall. The resource links below provide additional information which can be helpful.
Your stories and experiences regarding this issues would be appreciated in the comments section below.
Resource Links
- Verywell Health - Common causes of falls with people with dementia.
- WebMD - Falls an early clue to Alzheimer's.
- WebMD - Alzheimer's and fall risks: ways to prevent fall injuries.
- NHS Inform - Falls and dementia.
- Homewatch Caregivers - 10 tips for preventing dementia-related falls.
- Dementia Care Central - Balance problems associated with Alzheimer's and dementia: causes & solutions.
- Dispatch Central - Preventing falls in seniors with Alzheimer's.
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