According to statistics compiled by the MetLife Mature Marketing Institute, “falls are the leading cause of injury-related visits to the emergency room in the U.S. and the primary cause of accidental deaths (75 percent) in people over 65.”
Considering, a single fall can often lead to decreased independence, injury or even death, it is important to be aware of the potential factors that can lead to a fall.
Over the past year we have blogged on several topics relating to environmental and external factors that can be changed to reduce the likelihood of a fall and/or a fall-related injury such as home safety tips, how to fall, picking the right fall protection products and how to avoid dangerous areas in the home but we have rarely touched on the bodily factors that can affect the likelihood of a fall.
There are several bodily factors that can affect the likelihood of a fall including eyesight, hearing, feet and bones. This week we will cover the first topic of this four part series: eyesight.
Eyesight is perhaps one of the more widely known effects of aging. As we age it is normal for our eyesight to be negatively impacted. In addition to the normal effects of aging on our eyes, senior citizens are also at a higher risk of eye conditions such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.
It is estimated that 24 million Americans over the age of 40 have a cataract in one or both eyes. These cataracts normally develop slowly and will eventually lead to blurred vision, sensitivity to bright lights and glare, and trouble seeing at night, and an increased risk of falling.
Another eye condition seniors are vulnerable to contracting is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Sufferers of AMD generally experience decrease and/or distortion of their central vision. This loss of central vision causes many AMD sufferers to rely on peripheral vision increasing their risk of falling.
Even though the degradation of vision is a normal part of aging, there are several steps one can take to help reduce the effects of aging on eyesight. Taking the following steps will not only increase eye health but also help reduce the risk of a potential fall.
- Maintaining a healthy diet
- Reducing screen time
- Keeping regular eye appointments
- Get enough sleep
- Exercise your eyes
While maintaining the health and integrity of one’s eyesight is an important factor in reducing the risk of a fall, it is also important to have precautionary measures in place like SmartCells fall protection mats and flooring.
SmartCells fall protection mats and flooring employ a unique dual-stiffness technology that provides a stable, safe surface for standing, walking, wheeling and transferring, while at the same time provide significant cushioning in case of a slip or fall.
SmartCells fall-protection mats are safe and elegant. They combine style and quality with molded-in beveled edges and allow wheeled objects to easily roll over them.
SmartCells fall protection mats are constructed of material that will not absorb liquid offering a practical solution to infection control issues. SmartCells fall-protection flooring acts as an underlayment for many choices of standard floor covering, so you won’t even know it’s there, until a fall occurs.
SmartCells Fall Protection: We’ll be there when you can’t be.