Cancel Your Trip

My mother recently took a trip right before the Thanksgiving Holiday that she now wishes she had cancelled. In preparing her preflight, she threw all caution to the wind. A step ladder was only 5 feet away but seemed too far when a chair was so handy. As she started her ascend to the top of the cabinet for just the right Thanksgiving dish; visions of a holiday turkey presented perfectly danced in her head. With stockings on her feet as they flew above her head her flight seemed in slow motion as her somersault took form. What happened next no one is quite sure, but her long trip included delays in the emergency room, a surgical suite for repair, acupuncture for pain, and detours around the traditions of the holidays.
Unfortunately, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) my mother’s trip is not abnormal. Trips and falls are becoming a growing concern as our population grows older. In 2000 the CDC reports that direct medical cost for fatal falls was $179 million and $19 billion for nonfatal falls. Is it any wonder why Medicare is having financial challenges? As fall related deaths among the older population continue to raise it becomes easy to see how the cost can significantly impact not only the country but also the individual. The CDC also reported that in 2005, “15,800 people 65 and older died from injuries related to unintentional falls; about 1.8 million people 65 and older were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries from falls, and more than 433,000 of these patients were hospitalized” (CDC 2008).
The government is placing increasing pressure on hospitals and nursing homes to reduce falls in their facilities, but the CDC reports about half of all falls occur in the home. So, what can we do to protect ourselves or loved ones from falling at home? I recommend being proactive and taking steps to make your home trip and fall hazard free. Take this list and check them off as you go. Contact your church or social network for possible assistance or hire a professional in order to accomplish more complicated items on the list.
- Keep walk paths clear of clutter remove trip hazards like books, electrical cords, magazines, clothes and shoes
- Remove throw rugs or use double sided tape to keep them from slipping
- Wear shoes both inside and outside the home. Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers
- Keep items used most often stored in cabinets within easy reach
- Use non-slip mats in bathtubs and showers
- Install grab bars next to toilet, tub and shower
- Night lights in bathrooms and bedrooms
- Lights in stairways
- Light switches at both the top and bottom of stairs
- Review Medications with your pharmacist or your healthcare provider
- Have your vision checked
- Begin or maintain a regular exercise program like Tai Chi to improve balance. Talk to your healthcare provider about an exercise program that’s right for you.

Senior Centers in the community offer Tai Chi classes, seek them out and get involved. Contact the health department for additional resources and seminars offered as they work to decrease falls in our community. Form a falls prevention outreach in your church it’s a great way to protect your family while keeping them safe. Falls can happen at any age. “Cancel your trip” and the detours of your life.
Howard Baker, RN BSN
For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please email me at: howard@howardsbaker.com