7 Ways to Stop Falls in Their Tracks

Gripping Senior Safety Tips from Medication Management Partners

It’s winter and, undoubtedly that fall time of year, especially for adults 65 and older. We can all easily slip on icy surfaces outside, but let’s not forget how easy it is to take a serious fall indoors that can have equally dire circumstances. Since safety is a top priority at Medication Management Partners (MMP), we want to pass along important information on falls that may help people – particularly seniors – stay upright and two steady feet away from the emergency room.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), falls are the leading cause of non-illness-related deaths among seniors. Three (3) million older adults are treated in emergency departments each year for fall injuries. And, of course, the risk of falling and fall-related problems rises each year as seniors age.  So that’s the bad news. Here’s the good news from the NSC with easy-to-follow-advice on ways to prevent falls in the first place.

Don’t Slip Up. Pay Attention to Fall Prevention 

1. Ensure adequate lighting both indoors and outdoors, and that walkways and steps are smooth and free of puddles/ice.
2. Keep frequently used items in easily reachable areas, remove clutter and tripping hazards (electrical cords, boxes, books, throw rugs etc), and arrange furniture to provide open walking pathways.
3. Wear non-slip socks, and footwear with good support and slip-resistant soles.
4. Install grab bars near the toilet and bathtub or shower, and handrails on staircases.
5. Sit in chairs that do not move and have arm rests, and make sure your bed is easy to get in and out of.
6. Ensure proper fit and replace the rubber tips on canes and walkers when they become worn.

Medication Management Partners wants to share another important resource: it’s an entire brochure called, “Speak Up: Reduce Your Risk of Falling,”published by the Joint Commission of Accreditation.

It highlights the major reasons why people fall and provides very tactical steps you can take to help reduce the likelihood of a fall occurring, including:

7. Take care of your health

Managing your health through prescribed and managed medications – and helping residential care communities more easily do that – is at the heart of what we do at Medication Management Partners.

A regular physical exam to check your vision, gait, and overall general fitness and health is important. Certain common prescriptions and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as sedatives, opioids, pain relievers, anti-hypertensives, diuretics, antidepressants, antihistamines and OTCs to manage cough common cold symptoms can increase your risk of falling.

If your medicine makes you sleepy, light-headed, sluggish or confused, a thorough medication regimen review by your pharmacist can help mitigate this risk.

Speaking of falls, healthy bodies and stronger bones are directly related to falls. The National Institute of Aging in cooperation with National Institute of Health (NIH) give the following advice:

“Osteoporosis is a disease that makes bones weak and more likely to break. For people with osteoporosis, even a minor fall may be dangerous. Having healthy bones won’t prevent a fall, but if you fall, it might prevent breaking a hip or other bone, which may lead to a hospital or nursing home stay, disability, or even death. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D can help keep your bones strong. So, can physical activity. Try to get at least 150 minutes per week of physical activity. Other ways to maintain bone health include quitting smoking and limiting alcohol use, which can decrease bone mass and increase the chance of fractures. Also, try to maintain a healthy weight. Being underweight increases the risk of bone loss and broken bones. Talk to your doctor about osteoporosis.”

Meet Medication Management Partners

Residential care providers are concerned about resident safety, caregiver efficiency, regulatory compliance and controlling their liability. MMP provides customized, comprehensive pharmacy services to seniors and others in residential care communities. Our passion is to improve the quality of life for residents and simplify pharmacy for them and their caregivers. What makes MMP distinct is our laser focus on residential care communities, our simple and scalable process, and our ability to integrate with every e-MAR. This unique combination allows us to help operators manage these risks while improving resident care. For more information about MMP, our triple verification process and ways we can help you, check out our website, call (833) 223-0386 or email us at partnership@mmprx.com.

Call Brenda Brinka at 708-710-3003 or email brenda.b@mmprx.com to learn how MMP can help your community succeed and grow.