Slip-and-fall accidents are a leading cause of injury for many Florida seniors. According to Modern-Seniors.com, emergency rooms saw more 2.3 million seniors who had nonlife-threatening injuries from slip-and-fall accidents in 2010. Older people are more likely to trip and fall than any other age group. Most of these accidents often occur in their homes, but they can also occur anywhere, especially inside of grocery stores and on sidewalks.
Seniors are older and fragile. Their bodies cannot withstand the force and trauma that slip-and-fall accidents can cause without sustaining injuries ranging from scrapes and bruises to broken bones, fractures and even death. Seniors and their caregivers should learn about the factors that increase their risk for slips and falls so they can take measures to avoid them.
Medical conditions
With old age comes an increase in certain medical conditions, such as vision changes, weaker bones, mobility challenges and diminished equilibrium that can affect an older person’s balance, states GriswoldHomeCare.com. Their reflexes are not as quick and sharp as they once were. Many seniors who suffer from these ailments take medications that can further diminish their ability to keep their balance and avoid fall accidents and injuries.
Environmental hazards
Changes in the weather can lead to wet and slippery floor surfaces that many older people find challenging to walk on safely. Uneven floors and sidewalks are also troublesome for seniors to walk on, especially if they cannot see the differences in surfaces to avoid them. Poor lighting, stairs and buckled carpets are also hazards that lead to senior slip-and-fall accidents.
Falls may be common occurrences for seniors. Property owners can make continuous safety improvements to their buildings to reduce the risk of these accidents occurring. Seniors should use walking aids and ask for assistance whenever they feel it is necessary to keep themselves from falling and hurting themselves.