In Singapore, about one-third of people aged 60 and above have fallen more than once. The risk of falling is significantly higher for older adults as they age. Learn about the causes of falls and how you can reduce the risk of falls.
<div class="ExternalClass8B3161AD50AB4027A420177E7EF64C78"><h2>Causes of Falls</h2><p>In Singapore, about one-third of older people aged 60 and above have fallen more than once. The main factors causing a healthy elderly person to fall are environmental ones, such as tripping over furniture or slipping over floor rugs.</p><p>Older adults who are frailer may be more susceptible to falling, especially if they experience dizziness or have difficulty in walking. Thus, risk factors for falls among older people can either be due to personal factors or environmental factors.</p><h2>Personal Reasons:</h2><ul><li>Declining health, mobility and strength</li><li>Impaired balance and coordination</li><li>Impaired cognition</li><li>Medical conditions that affect vision, muscle strength or reflexes, e.g. Parkinson's disease, cataracts, high blood pressure, stroke, etc.</li><li>Medications that can cause unsteadiness and/or affect balance, vision or alertness, e.g. sedatives, blood pressure medications</li><li>Lack of physical activity, poor muscle tone and strength</li><li>Fatigue</li><li>Inadequate nutrition and diet</li></ul><h2>Environmental Reasons:
</h2><ul><li>Uneven, loose and slippery surfaces</li><li>Unsecured carpets, rugs</li><li>Loose cords and wires</li><li>Inadequate/poor lighting</li><li>Poor step and stairway design</li><li>Chairs and beds that are too high or too low</li><li>Inappropriate footwear</li><li>Inappropriate eyewear</li></ul><h2>1-2-3 to Preventing Falls</h2><ul><li> You can lower the chances of falling by making some changes to your daily activities. Talk to your doctor or a trained healthcare professional:</li></ul><ol><li>Have your vision checked regularly.</li><ul><li>Glasses with the wrong prescription and medical conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts may affect your vision and thus increase your risk of falling.</li></ul><li>If in doubt, have your doctor or pharmacist review your medicines.</li><ul><li>Some medications or combinations of medications can cause side effects such as drowsiness and increase the risk of falling.</li></ul><li>Always consult your doctor before starting on any medications.</li></ol><ul><li>Engage in regular physical activity</li></ul><p>Physical activities and keeping active can make you stronger and lower your chances of falling. Physical activity also improves your quality of life.</p><ol><li>Ask your doctor what types of physical activity would be best for you.
</li><li>Have a plan for regular physical activities that fit your interest and abilities.</li><li>Consider strength, balance and flexibility exercises that are most effective at reducing falls risk.</li><li>For more information, refer to these websites:</li></ol><p><a href="http://www.healthyaging.org.sg/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Healthy Aging Association</a>
<a href="https://www.aic.sg/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) Singapore</a></p><ul><li>Make your home safer</li></ul><p>The home is the most common place where fall-related injuries occur. To make your home safer:</p><ol><li>Remove floor rugs or use a non-slip backing</li><li>Coil or tape cords and wires next to the wall so that you don't trip over them</li><li>Minimise cluttering of furniture</li><li>Fix loose or uneven steps</li><li>Install grab bars and non-skid tape in the shower</li><li>Ensure that entrances, stairways, and rooms are well lit</li></ol><h2>Fall Prevention in a Nutshell:
</h2><ul><li>You can control some of your personal risks of falling by optimising your health and vision. </li><li>You can decrease your risk of falling in the home by reducing environmental hazards, such as removing slippery rugs or loose wires. </li><li>You can reduce your risk of falling by keeping active, especially by doing strength, balance and flexibility exercises. </li></ul><p>
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<strong>Read these next:</strong></p><ul><li>
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1414/tips-on-fall-prevention">7 Fall Prevention Tips for Seniors and Caregivers</a></li></ul>
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Monday, May 18, 2015
Monday, May 18, 2015
ICD-13-Muscoskeletal,PER_Senior Citizen,AGE_Adult,AGE_Senior,
No
400
Monday, August 17, 2020
<div class="ExternalClassA318562EAD924B8098B4452F01AA643E"><p>Health Promotion Board
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Singapore 168937</p></div>
HPB_Mailbox@hpb.gov.sg
<div class="ExternalClassD82D00FD8732485BB004310E754C9093">Established in 2001, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) has a vision to build a nation of healthy people.
HPB implements programmes that reach out to the population, specifically children, adults and the elderly. These programmes include health and dental services for school children, BreastScreen Singapore, AIDS Education Programme, CervicalScreen Singapore, Childhood Injury Prevention Programme, Mental Health Education Programme, National Myopia Prevention Programme, Physical Activity, National Smoking Control Programme, Nutrition Programme, Osteoporosis Education Programme, Workplace Health Promotion Programme, HPB Online, HealthLine, Health Information Centre and HealthZone. New programmes will also be initiated over time to address health concerns among the community.</div>
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Health Promotion Board
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Preventing Falls at Home
Articles
ICD-13-Muscoskeletal, PER_Senior Citizen, AGE_Adult, AGE_Senior