Falls Home Environment Case Study

Falls: Home Environment Case 9.3

Falls have long been defined as an occurrence in which an individual unintentionally comes to rest on the ground, floor, or at a lower level. (Tinetti, Speechley, and Ginter, 1988.) Most falls take place in the home. Annually, about 2.3 million older adults are treated in the ED for fall-related injuries and more than 662,000 are hospitalized (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). Falls are not a random event or usual result of aging. The consequences of falls for an older adult can be one of the most expensive and life-altering events associated with old age.

Some individuals have an increase in muscle weakness, loss of balance, partial loss of vision, or a change in their ability to walk. Additionally,

The checklist addresses issues with the floors, the stairway and stairs, the bedroom, the kitchen, the bathroom, other things one can do to prevent falls, and other safety tips. The checklist not only addresses fall risks but tells way to prevent them. I do have multiple fall risks in my current home. I have to walk around furniture. I have lap top cords and other electrical cords on my floor. I do not have stairs in my current home so I do not have to worry about falling down the stairs. In my kitchen, I do have things in high shelves that I need to stand on a chair to reach. My shower is slippery and I have fell in my shower before. My path from my bathroom to my bedroom is dark. Should address the previous fall risks in my home to help prevent falls. I should make sure my path is clear and that I do not have cords on the ground. I should put a rubber shower mat in my shower to prevent falls. I should turn on a light if I need to use the bathroom at night. I should also make sure I can reach whatever I need in my cabinets.

I would tell her that naturally one wants to panic, but that is the opposite of what one should do. I would tell her to try to calm herself down, and to take a few minutes to assess her pain and just breathe. I would mention it is important to allow her blood pressure to stabilize from the shock of the fall before attempting to get up. I would then tell Mary that once she believes it is safe to get up to roll over onto her side. I would tell her that it is important to rest again and her let body and blood pressure adjust once more. The next step is to get up on her hands and knees and to crawl to a sturdy chair. I would tell her to put her hands on the chair seat and to slide one foot forward so it is flat on the floor while keeping the other leg bent so that knee is on the floor. The next step is from the kneeling position to slowly rise up and to turn her body to sit in the chair. When educating Mary how to get up from a fall I would tell her that it is a great option to have a medical alert bracelet or system to give her peace of mind that help is on the way if she needs it. Having a medical alert system or carrying a cell phone with her at all times will help if Mary has fallen and cannot get up. When educating Mary how to get up from a fall I would have her practice with me at her home. I would have her sit on the floor NOT FALL and then try to get up the way I described. I would be there to help her if