While many of the falls that happen in and around our homes are preventable, they remain the leading cause of injury and injury related hospitalizations amongst Canadians over 65 years of age. One-third of older people fall at least once a year, and account for an estimated $2.2 billion dollars annually in related-health care spending across Canada to address the consequences related to them.
While many Canadians hope to live independently as they age, a fall can be a key reason why older Canadians end up moving in to nursing or retirement homes. A recent National Institute of Ageing (NIA)/TELUS Health Survey found that nearly 100 per cent of Canadians 65 years of age and older report that they intend to do whatever they can to stay active and maintain their optimal health and independence and plan on supporting themselves to live safely and independently in their own home as long as possible. Thirty per cent of Canadians 65 years of age and older, however, responding to the same survey, said they don’t feel prepared should they be alone when a medical emergency occurs.
The good news is that while only 71 per cent of Canadians under 55 years of age reported knowing what to do to reduce their chances of falling in and around the home, 91 per cent of Canadians over 65 years of age and 96 per cent of Canadians over 75 years of age indicated they knew what to do to reduce their risk of falls. While it’s clear that the NIA/TELUS Health Survey illustrates we are becoming more knowledgeable about preventing falls as we age, more education about falls and how to prevent them, and what they can do should they be alone and suffer a medical emergency, should be available for Canadians of all ages.
What was unclear from the Survey is where people are getting their information around preventing falls from, and the quality and accuracy of this information. For example, only 21 per cent of Canadians reported that they have spoken to their healthcare provider about what to do if a fall happens to either themselves and/or their family members, and this rate doesn’t seem to improve with age. However, 77 per cent of those Canadians who reported having spoken to their family physician about what to do if a fall happens were more likely to report feeling prepared in case they are alone and suffer a medical emergency, compared to 55 per cent of Canadians who said that they had not spoken to their doctor. What was further reassuring is that at least 85 per cent of Canadians 65 years of age and older say they are open to receiving advice on how to live safely on their own and that could include more information on how to prevent falls and live more safely at home.
To help combat the current knowledge gaps that exist, my colleagues and I at Sinai Health System developed Preventing Falls at Home, an educational resource for our older patients, their families and caregivers that outlines ways to prevent falls that include:
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Participating in regular exercise and physical activity
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Reviewing medications to ensure they are not causing dizziness that can cause you to fall
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Having regular checkups by an eye doctor, poor vision can increase chances of falling
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Making your home safer by removing tripping hazards and keeping important items at a close reach
The value of participating in regular exercise and physical activity cannot be underestimated. This is partly why one of the proudest things I was able to put forward in the developing the Government of Ontario’s Seniors Strategy was a $10 million annual investment in the creation of more than 2,000 free falls prevention exercise programs available that focus on helping older Ontarians maintain and improve their balance, strength and mobility. Given that we spend over $750 million annually in treating the consequences of falls in Ontario each year, we knew this would be a great investment helping older Ontarians to stay active and maintain their optimal health and independence. Supporting older adults to also get access to occupational therapy home safety assessments and programs that can support people to make the necessary adaptations to their homes to reduce their risk of falling are also well proven ways to help older Canadians achieve their predominant goal to stay healthy and independent in their homes for as long as possible.
Falls can lead to a disability, chronic pain and a loss of independence, however, there are simple things older adults can do, such as walking for 30 minutes a day or working with a healthcare provider to ensure your medications are up to date. Indeed, small steps can drastically reduce one’s risk of falls and keep older Canadians safe and in their own homes longer, so let’s ensure we do our best to educate ourselves and do all that we can to make our goals a reality.
