The Prevalence, Epidemiology, and Prevention of Falls among the old age
According to Burns and Kakara (2018), one in every four Americans, with at least 65 years of age, experience a fall each year. Data from the United States’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention equally shows that an older adult is admitted and treated in the emergency room every 11 seconds. Ideally, falls account for the highest number of non-fatal and fatal injury-associated hospitalizations among the elderly.
About 2.8 million fall-related injuries are reported every year; 800,000 results in hospitalization, and more than 27,000 cases lead to death (Sorock, 2018). These statistics, however, do not imply that aging is a permanent precursor of fall injuries. Adjusting lifestyle and using evidence-based programs that prevent falling among the elderly can significantly reduce the number of cases reported every year.
To achieve a dignified life for the selected population, the elderly who live in nursing homes, it is essential to initiate and implement a comprehensive program that would the rate of fall-related injuries. Of all the interventions that exist, physical exercise is the most effective as it serves all the three roles: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
The primary role of physical exercise is to prevent or delay the onset of system impairments and pathology, which often leads to disability and an increase in the probability of falls among the aged population. Its secondary function is to slow disease progression and impairments to the various systems of the body. Lastly, physical exercise, in its tertiary role, restores body functions to the degree that permits for more autonomy in the performance of crucial daily activities. (Matchar et al., 2017)
The three education topics that would be critical for the selected population include “Understanding the risk factors for fall injuries,” “Preventing fall-related injuries,” and “Handling fall injuries.”
References
Burns, E., & Kakara, R. (2018). Deaths from falls among persons aged≥ 65 years—the United States, 2007–2016. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 67(18), 509.
Matchar, D. B., Duncan, P. W., Lien, C. T., Ong, M. E. H., Lee, M., Gao, F., & Eom, K. (2017). A randomized controlled trial of screening, risk modification, and physical therapy to prevent falls among the elderly recently discharged from the emergency department to the community: the steps to avoid falls in the elderly study. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 98(6), 1086-1096.
Sorock, G. S. (1988). Falls among the elderly: epidemiology and prevention. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 4(5), 282-288.