May is Older Adults Month

Are you or a loved one at risk of a fall? Falls are the main cause for injuries in people 65 years of age and older. Falls can occur to any one, any where, and at any time, often taking place at home during everyday activities. They can lead to serious injuries like fractures in the hip, spine, or wrist, as well as head injuries. The fractures sustained due to these falls may be serious, so contact your health care team if you think you are at risk of injury from a fall. 

Are you at risk for falls? See if these factors apply to you

According to the Wexner Medical Center, these are some examples of possibly being at risk for falls.

• I have fallen or nearly fallen in the past.
• My age is 65 or older.
• I have weakness in my legs, have brittle bones, or a bone disease.
• I walk slower than normal.
• I take more than 2 medicines, either prescription or over the counter medicines.

What to do if you experience a fall:

• Stay calm, and do not panic.
• Call for help if someone is there with you.
• Try to determine if you are hurt.
• If there is a chair or couch nearby, slide or crawl to it and try to get up.
• If you cannot get up, call for help.
• If you are alone, crawl slowly to a phone and call 911, a family member, or a neighbor to help.

Resources

The LHI has information on Older Adults from Elder Abuse and Accidents to Wrinkles. You can stop by the LHI in Rhodes Hall 24 hours a day/7 days a week and pull information from the LHI slat board full of resources or contact the librarian at (614) 293-3707 or health-info@osu.edu. All information is provided at no cost for you.

For more resources, please email your questions to an LHI librarian at health-info@osu.edu, or call us at (614) 293-3707. All information is free and confidential.

The Library for Health Information is here for you. To find out more, visit the LHI webpage.