Seniors: How Dangerous is Breaking a Hip?

As people get older, bones become more brittle, balance is harder to obtain and falls become not just more common, but also more problematic. Breaking a hip can lead to serious injury, and even death. Even though the rates for hip fractures are steadily declining in America, falling remains the number one cause of injury in the elderly. 

Women are twice as likely to fracture their hip as men are, and a full 20% of patients who have suffered from a hip fracture die within one year of the injury. About one in every three falls leads to a serious injury and 95% of hip fractures are caused by falls. 

Outside all of the statistics, what’s important to keep in mind is that even though a senior’s risk of falling increases as they get older, there are also preventative methods they can utilize to reduce the risk of falling, and subsequently, reduce their risk of mortality due to a fall.

Maintain Good Bone Health

• Some people are more inclined toward brittle bones than others; these include small-boned people, Asians and Caucasians, women, and those who are slender. Knowing this predisposition is beneficial to taking the right steps toward prevention.
• Eating a healthy diet will help keep bones strong. Include lots of calcium found in foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese, kale, broccoli, watercress, etc.
• Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia will have a depleting affect on bone health (and health in general).
• Take your daily vitamins to make sure your bones are getting the nutrients they need.

Preventing Falls

• Medications can cause dizziness, check with your doctor to make sure there are no negative drug interactions with your medications, and if a medication does cause dizziness, try to take it at night before bed.
• Exercise regularly to strengthen muscles and maintain focus and balance.
• Keep your eyes healthy by regularly visiting the optometrist.
• Wear appropriate shoes (flat) to avoid tripping and falling.
• Add grab bars, railings, tack down carpets, and install good lighting at home.

If you live in the Raleigh area and are interested in receiving Alzheimer’s care in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Garner, Clayton and the surrounding areas, you can call the Always Best Care Raleigh location at (919) 724-4297 to set up a free care consultation. They can also offer you free referrals for assisted living placement in Raleigh. Call them today; they look forward to hearing from you!