Medical Alert Systems For When You Fall

By Virginia Hospital Center

Virginia Hospital Center

. http://www.virginiahospitalcenter.com/

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Medical Alert Systems For When You Fall

Approximately 13.3 million people age 65 and older will experience a fall this year. On average that is one fall every 2.3 seconds.

This doesn't have to be life altering, but it can be. Most people know that falls result in bruises and broken bones. It is less well known that being unable to get up after a fall can cause further, more serious injury. This is important because it is estimated that about half of the older adults who fall cannot get back up without help.

Furthermore, the longer one is down, the greater the risk of medical problems that may have been prevented by getting up quickly. Without immediate help elderly individuals may suffer pain, emotional distress, dehydration, pressure ulcers, hypothermia or pneumonia. In addition to the physical consequences, being unable to get up causes feelings of helplessness and can trigger a debilitating fear of falling.

All of this can have an impact on someone's ability to remain living independently, resulting in a move to a nursing home or other supervised living situation.

In a fall or emergency, every second counts. In order to help provide peace of mind to individuals and their family members, there are medical alert systems that provide fast access to help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with just the push of a button.

Some systems provide an additional layer of protection by placing a call for help if a fall is detected, even if the user cannot push their button.

There are also wireless systems, which provide this service in cases where a person doesn't have a home landline.

Many falls are preventable. Falls are often due to hazards that are easy to overlook but easy to fix. The first step is to overcome fear and transform it into actions that help you avoid falls. Fall prevention checklists are available from several sources including the Centers for Disease Control, which can be acquired online at www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/CheckListForSafety.html.

This checklist has a lot of great information and covers tips for floors, stairs and steps, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and additional tips you can use to help prevent falls and know what to do if you do have a fall.

Whether you are old or young, you can benefit greatly from utilizing this information to reduce falls in your home and work. When you do have a fall, it is critical to have a medical alert system to get you the help you need in a timely fashion.

It is up to you to take action today and seek the information you need to live healthier and happier.