Move it Monday – Focussing on reconditioning
Reconditioning is extremely important when it comes to falls prevention. After physical inactivity, bedrest, or extremely sedentary lifestyle, increasing activity levels even slightly can reduce your risk of a fall. An increase in activity levels of just 10% could potentially save more than 4500 older adults from having a fall!
Not only would this save as much as £16m in health and social care related costs, but more than 4500 patients and their families could potentially avoid the long-lasting trauma of a fall.
If you’re an older adult, why not get back to the activities you loved before COVID-19? Whether that is walking, dancing, swimming, or even a Parkrun event!
Focus on whatever activity is easiest for you. The easier it is, the more likely those activities will become a habit
Think Delirium and Consider Cognition
Falls and delirium are linked. Hospital admissions that screened positive for delirium had an increased risk of falling.
The four features of delirium are:
- Inattention
- Acute onset (a sudden, rapid, or unanticipated development of a disease or its symptoms) and fluctuating course (symptoms of the illness varies in severity or impact over time)
- Disorganised thinking
- Altered level of consciousness
Cognitive impairment (CI) increases an individual’s risk of falls due to the role cognition plays in gait control. Older adults with Dementia fall 2-3 times more than cognitively healthy older adults, and 60-80% of people with Dementia fall annually.
Keep your brain and body active, but remember your limitations!
Wobbly Wednesdays – Blood Pressure
Rapid changes in blood pressure can increase your risk of a fall, particularly Postural hypotension which is when your blood pressure drops when you go from lying down to sitting up, or from sitting to standing.
When your blood pressure drops, less blood goes to your organs and muscles. This can make you dizzy and more likely to fall. Try peddling your feet before you get up, and make sure you take your time to stand!
If you have low blood pressure, make sure to stay hydrated, avoid caffeine at night, and avoid hot showers/baths to lower your risk of Postural hypotension, and a fall.
Thirsty Thursday – Dehydration and it’s impact on falls
Common complications associated with dehydration include low blood pressure, weakness, dizziness, and increased risk of falls.
Poorly hydrated individuals are also more likely to develop pressure sores which can reduce mobility, leading to physical inactivity.
Stay hydrated and decrease your risk of having a fall. If you have to reduce your fluids due to continence issues, ask your GP for advice.
Feel Good Friday – Our Team
Postural Stability course
At Nottingham CityCare, we have a successful Postural Stability Programme, a 20 week funded exercise course.
Our Falls and Rehabilitation Team can see patients who are at risk of falling (not only those who have fallen). Patients can self-refer so there’s no need to go through a GP!
For falls prevention, please call 0300 131 0300 or complete our online referral form.
Urgent Community Response (UCR) Team
Our UCR Team provide a two hour response for non-injured fallers in their own homes, avoiding a long wait for an ambulance, and reducing pressure on the ambulance service.
Our UCR service is available for Nottingham CityCare staff if they find a patient after a fall, or they fall during a visit.
Date published: 18 September 2023
