Research shows most troubling causes of injuries amongst elderly population
Elderly people have unique health constraints that make them more prone to injuries than the rest of the population. Problems with mobility, combined with mental degradation, mean elderly individuals are at risk of injuring themselves during what most of us would call normal daily activities.
In fact, research into the most common causes of injuries amongst seniors throws up some pretty troubling results. Unintentional injury is the seventh largest cause of death among older adults, but what’s causing these injuries?
Falls
Falls will always be the number one cause of injuries for elderly people, primarily because of the mobility and strength issues that come with old age. As well as dealing with common health challenges, seniors often have to deal with their joints getting stiff, muscles weakening, and a loss of balance.
Consequently, this creates the perfect circumstances for falls to be extremely common. An elderly person can so easily lose their balance or lack the strength to keep themselves upright for long periods. As if to make matters worse, bone density and strength also weaken when you get older, which is why a small fall for an elderly person can result in fractures or broken bones.
The biggest concern is what happens when someone falls. An older person can fall in their home and have no way of contacting someone else for help. They may be in the same position for hours - or worse, days. This could force them to try to get back up or move around on the floor, which will only exacerbate any injuries and make them more severe.
Thankfully, we have ways to prevent this and ensure seniors get immediate medical attention. The Life Assure emergency call button is a popular option that seniors can attach to their clothes and then press for help if they need it. By getting the right assistance as soon as possible, a fall can avoid turning into something life-threatening.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
After falls, motor vehicle accidents are the second-most troubling cause of injuries in the elderly population. This covers accidents involving them as passengers or pedestrians, though incidents mainly happen when the older person is the driver.
Evidence suggests that older drivers are disproportionately involved in major vehicle accidents. A possible reason for this is that older people lack the reflexes of the younger generation. You also don’t need to take an additional driving test when you reach a certain age, meaning a senior’s knowledge of road rules can be outdated.
Furthermore, older people are more likely to be injured following an accident. The other party involved may get away without so much as a scratch, but due to how fragile an elderly person’s body is, they could break a bone or deal with a severe strain. There’s not a lot that can be done to prevent this; perhaps governments should consider mandatory driving tests for people once they reach a certain age. It can keep both them and other road users safe.
The troubling thing about these common injury causes is that they can happen every day at any given moment. It’s hard to prevent someone from falling over or getting into a motor vehicle accident. All you can do is take this information and use it to try and help the elderly people in your life to the best of your abilities.
