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Accidental falls in elderly

[Posted: Tue 11/05/2004 - www.irishhealth.com]

By Deborah Condon

Around 40% of patients who are admitted to hospital through the A&E are over the age of 65 and almost one-third of these admissions are due to fall-related injuries, an international conference in Dublin has been told.

Delegates at the conference were told that accidental falls are a topic of great concern, with one-third of people over the age of 65 and half of people over the age of 80 experiencing falls every year.

A fractured hip is a major consequence of such falls and the estimated cost of inpatient care for such an injury is around €19,000.

"In addition, many people require rehabilitation after hip fracture, but this cost has not been quantified. Less than half of those who have a hip fracture regain the level of independence they had before their fracture", explained chartered physiotherapist and co-chairperson of the conference, Dr Frances Horgan.

Dr Horgan said that falls are also a contributing factor in nursing home admissions. Furthermore even where a non-serious injury occurs, there can still be major effects on the individual, resulting in loss of independence and confidence, fear of falling and restriction in activity.

"While accidental falls occur throughout our life span, death from accidental falls rises sharply in later life. As the world's population continues to age, the number of falls resulting in fractures among older people is increasing", Dr Horgan said.

Also speaking at the conference, Dr Dawn Skelton, co-ordinator of ProFane (Prevention of Falls Network Europe), said that there is growing evidence that specific types of exercise can help to prevent future falls.

"Poor strength, poor power, poor joint position sense and poor balance are more prevalent in fallers than non-fallers. Specific training pf postural and antagonist muscles, together with balance, gait (pattern of walking) and functional skills training, can rectify many of these problems", Dr Skelton said.

According to Professor Rose-Anne Kenny from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, making simple changes in the home, such as removing loose rugs and ensuring adequate lighting and hand rails, can also have a positive effect.

The International Conference on the Advances in Balance and Falls Management in the Older Person took place in the Trinity Centre for Health Sciences in St James's Hospital in Dublin.

The event was hosted by the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists in Neurology and Gerontology and the International Association of Physical Therapists Working with Older People, in association with AGILE Northern Ireland.

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