New Guidelines Advocate Exercise To Prevent Slip And Fall Accidents Among Seniors

As any California slip and fall attorney will tell you, elderly citizens have some of the highest risks of suffering a fall accident. New guidelines that have just been released by the American Geriatrics Society advocate exercise as a means to prevent such accidents among the elderly. The guidelines have been developed in conjunction with the British Geriatrics Society. They have been published online in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

According to the guidelines, elderly citizens need to get moving and get involved in some kind of exercise program in order to reduce the risk of suffering a fall. The updated recommendations specify programs like tai chi or physical therapy programs that target gait, balance and strength in order to prevent falls. Similar exercise programs are also expected to be touted by the US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines to prevent falls. The US Preventive Services Task Force is soon expected to release its guidelines, and those will probably be along these lines too.

The guidelines promoted by both the American Geriatrics Society and the US Preventive Services Task Force also include the increased use of vitamin D supplements to prevent falls. According to the American Geriatric Society/British Geriatrics Society, elderly adults should have a recommended 800 IU vitamin D. supplement. The supplement is recommended whether the adults live in a community or a long-term care facility.

Interestingly enough, neither the American Geriatrics Society nor the US Preventive Services Task Force mentions aids, devices or protectors as means of preventing injuries among elders.

The American Geriatrics Society/British Geriatrics Society guidelines also include risk assessment for elderly citizens. The assessment should take into consideration the presence of balance or gait problems, or other risk factors. The guidelines that have been significantly updated since 2001, also include recommendations relating to feet and footwear. A study released last year has indicated that elderly citizens who wore properly fitting footwear in the house instead of socks, had a much lower risk of suffering a fall. Besides, that study also indicated that walking about barefoot was a risk factor that increased an elderly person's chances of suffering a fall.

The American Geriatrics Society guidelines also include an assessment of the individual's daily activities and his use of adaptive equipment and aids. Very often, seniors have a fear of falling. There have been studies to indicate that individuals who are nervous about falling have a greater chance of suffering a fall.

Finally, the recommendations call for an assessment of the individual's home living conditions, to determine possible fall risks. For instance, elders who are at a high risk of falls must live in an environment that makes walking easy and safe. Floors must be slip proof and have traction, bathrooms must have mats and grab bars installed, and stairs must have steady railings.