Balance and mobility, after all, are based on a certain degree of strength in both the upper and lower body. Difficulty in getting up, or pushing upward with your arms, from a chair or sofa might be an indication of upper body weakness. Lower-body weakness or unsteadiness is a warning sign for potential falls and decreased mobility.

Falling: How Does It Happen?

Falls can happen to anyone, but the common denominator in most falls is age. Many of the people at high risk for falls are the same ones who have lost some of their mobility. One in every three adults 65 years and older will fall this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries.

An injury that begins with a fall can develop into restricted mobility that negatively affects the way you live. At first it’s a “hard to get around” situation, but it can end with a smaller world in which a person can’t walk very far, can’t drive, can’t travel, and can’t enjoy normal activities that once were taken for granted.

Balance Training Benefits

Researchers at the University of Sydney found that strength and flexibility tasks embedded in the daily activities of a group of men and women over the age of 70 reduced the rate of falls by 31 percent.

The participants assigned to a program consisting of walking, stepping over objects, and moving from a sitting to standing position reported significantly fewer falls than participants who engaged in a traditional lower-body exercise program and those who were assigned to a sham exercise group. They also displayed better balance, increased ankle strength, and improved function and participation in daily life.

Falling: Myths vs. Facts

There are as many myths about falls as there are about potential loss of mobility.

Myth #1: Falls happen to other people, not to me.
Fact: Remember that statistic about one out of three older adults falling each year? If you are 65 or older, you have a 33 percent chance of falling this year. If it doesn’t happen this year, you face increased odds next year and every year after that.

Myth #2: Taking medication doesn’t increase my risk of falling.
Fact: Medications may increase your risk of falling by making you sleepy or dizzy, says the National Council on Aging. Talk to your health care provider about potential side effects, and be especially careful when starting a new medication.

Myth #3: There is no need to get my vision checked every year.
Fact: Vision is a key risk factor for falls. People with vision problems are twice as likely to fall as those without an impairment. Get your eyes checked every year, and update your glasses if necessary.

Myth #4: Falls are not as serious as cancer or heart disease, so I don’t need to talk to family members or my doctor(s) if I’m concerned about my risk of falling.
Fact: Preventing falls is a team effort and something that should be discussed with your doctor, family, and others in a position to help.

Myth #5: I don’t need to talk to a parent, spouse, or other adult if I’m concerned about his or her risk of falling.
Fact: Yes, you do. Without being threatening, let the person know about your concerns and offer support to help him or her maintain the highest degree of independence possible.

Originally published in 2016, this post is regularly updated.

The post What Is Physical Fitness? It’s the Best Way to Prevent Falls appeared first on University Health News.

If you’re shopping for one for yourself or for your mom or dad, you’ll have to wade through a variety of options, but the bottom line is that the person must commit to wearing and using the device.

A Variety of Senior Alert Devices

Many people remember that old TV commercial featuring a woman lying on the floor in her home and saying, “Help! I’ve fallen and can’t get up.” Simple devices requiring the user to push a button for help have been around since the 1970s. Fast-forward a few decades to today: Senior alert devices have become much more sophisticated with a variety of features and benefits.

The device itself can be a necklace, pendant, bracelet, or clip-on style product. All come with a home base and are connected to a call center for which there is a monthly fee.

Other features include GPS locators and multiple notification alerts sent to designated persons and/or emergency call centers. Some have motion sensors that can detect a fall, prompting an automatic notification of emergency services in the event the person has become unconscious.

Fall detection, of course, is a desired feature, given that the propensity for a fall increases with age. (See also our post “What Is Physical Fitness? How to Keep from Falling Down.”)

Fall detectors are essential in order to provide rapid assistance and to prevent fear of falling and the adverse health consequences. The technology, however, has a way to go. According to a recent study, there is no standardized solution for the complex process of fall detection.

On the horizon, however, is new sensor that promise to make life safer for the elderly, according to developers at SINTEF, an independent Scandinavian research organization. Pressure measurements enable this newly developed fall detector to “observe” falls that current sensors do not register, thus improving safety for older people who live at home. It works by comparing pressure changes between the sensor attached to the user’s body and the other sensors installed around the house.

The pressure measurement technology involved is not new, as such, akin to the way aircraft register changes in altitude, but this is the first time it has been employed in a fall detector.

The User Must Use It

Regardless of which senior alert device a user owns, the biggest problem is that he or she won’t wear it, or feels embarrassed to call for help. Encouraging your loved to use a senior alert device may take some time and effort, but it’s important to understand the features (and limitations) of each device.

While these senior alert devices can indeed be lifesavers, nothing compares to having a human backup plan in place. A neighbor, a friend, or a healthcare worker who stops by to check in can help keep your loved one safe; a simple phone call can also make all the difference.

Make sure your loved one’s cellphone has emergency contacts that are easily accessible. Consider practicing with your loved to make sure he or she knows how to make and take calls. Sometimes, older people can be frustrated by technology, but with patience and practice, most can learn to use a cellphone, tablet, or senior alert device.

Originally published in 2016, this article is regularly updated.

The post Senior Alert Devices Can Save Lives appeared first on University Health News.