East Tennessee's Mountain Views

East Tennessee's Mountain Views

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P.O. Box 209

Vonore, TN 37885

865-657-3077

Preventing Falls in the Elderly

Wednesday, April 1st, 2020 | Uncategorized | No Comments

We’ve all seen the commercial with the elderly person who’s fallen and they can’t get up. But that doesn’t have to be you or your loved one, because despite what you see on television, falls are not actually a normal part of aging and can be prevented.

According to the CDC, one-third of American seniors fall every year, resulting in more than 2.3 ER visits annually. Don’t become part of that statistic! By following these tips for preventing falls, seniors can lead very active, independent lifestyles free from the dangers of falling.

First, however, let’s look at the potential causes of falling in the elderly. For many, it may be chronic conditions, lack of exercise, medication side effects, or vision issues. So how do you combat these causes?

» Get regular vision and hearing checkups.

» Attend exercise classes, especially classes like Yoga and Tai Chi that focus on balance. At Parkview Senior Living communities, we offer a variety of exercise classes designed specifically for the physical needs of seniors.

» Talk to your physician about your medications and potential side effects.

» Modify your surroundings to make it safer by installing handrails in bathrooms and showers, and remove rugs that can easily cause one to trip. Here at Parkview, our apartment homes come equipped with handrails and pull stations, and seniors can be equipped with fall alert pendants

Here are some common myths about senior falls that we think require some debunking: 

» I don’t need yearly vision checks – Aging and vision loss tend to go hand-in-hand, and with that loss comes an increased risk of falling and injury.

» If I limit my physical activity, I can avoid falling – Limiting activity limits strength and range of motion. Increasing physical activity will help an elderly adult stay active and independent.

» Taking medication doesn’t increase my risk of falling – Medications affect people in many different ways, so it’s important to understand ALL side effects and/or potential interactions of your medications.

» Use of a cane or walker makes me more dependent – Walking aids actually can help many older adults improve their independence and mobility.

We invite you to tour one of Parkview Senior Living’s communities and understand that safety and independence can live comfortably hand-in-hand in a welcoming, elegant, and vibrant environment.

Parkview Senior Living

770 Broome Road
Knoxville, TN 37909
865-357-2288

1413 W. Broadway
Maryville, TN 37801
865-980-8810

Coming soon!
Emory Road & Tullahoma, TN

www.ParkviewSeniorLivingTN.com

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East Tennessee's Mountain Views

P.O. Box 209

Vonore, TN 37885

Email: inquiry@etmv.com

865-657-3077 Local

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