【Creative Cultivation Program】Beware of the last fall of the elderly

Author: Zhang Qingming

With the development of social economy, people's living standards and medical health have gradually improved, and the average life expectancy of the population has gradually increased. With the increase of the elderly in society, the health problems encountered by the elderly have gradually increased. Many elderly people are afraid of high blood pressure, diabetes, and cerebrovascular disease, but there is a fatal orthopedic condition that cannot be ignored, that is, hip fracture in the elderly, also known as the last fracture of the elderly.

The so-called last fracture in life refers to the death of the patient due to various complications after the fracture. In real life, except for a few major traumas, fractures rarely lead to direct death of patients. Due to osteoporosis in the elderly, a minor traumatic fall can cause a hip fracture.

There are two types of hip fractures: one is femoral neck fracture, and the other is intertrochanteric fracture. Some of the patients died because of conservative treatment. As the saying goes, it takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone. After a hip fracture, if the elderly take conservative treatment, they need to stay in bed for about 8-12 weeks. During the bed rest period, they should avoid some serious complications such as bedsores, aspiration pneumonia, urinary tract infection, especially deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs, which has been prevalent in recent years. Close observation and careful care are required. The elderly have always been weak in constitution, and coexisting diseases such as heart problems, cerebrovascular problems, diabetes, etc. will cause recurrence of old diseases due to long-term bed rest, which may lead to the patient's eventual death.

Studies have shown that the one-year mortality rate of elderly patients with hip fractures after conservative treatment is close to 50%. Therefore, patients with good physical conditions will choose surgical treatment. Surgery can achieve the purpose of anatomical reduction, and lower limb functional exercises can be performed appropriately at an early stage, and normal walking can be restored after the fracture heals. Only a few of these patients died due to anesthesia, surgery and related complications. Even if they successfully pass the perioperative period, a considerable number of patients will die due to various reasons within one year of the fracture.

Since this type of fracture is so dangerous, how can we deal with and prevent it? The main thing is how to prevent falls.

Elderly people should pay attention to these issues to prevent falls at home

1. Pay attention to the reasonable arrangement of the height and position of indoor furniture. The placement of furniture should not be changed easily. Daily necessities should be placed in a convenient position to make the elderly familiar with their living space.

2. Remove obstacles that may affect the activities of the elderly and try to create barrier-free spaces. Do not use furniture with wheels; try to avoid uneven floors, and try to remove steps and thresholds indoors and on balconies; fix small carpets indoors to prevent sliding; try to avoid placing things everywhere, put away or fix wires in corners, and do not place small stools in passages where people often walk.

3. The floors of living rooms and bathrooms should be non-slip and must be kept dry. Since many elderly people have difficulty in moving around and find it difficult to stand up, sit down, and bend over, it is recommended to install more handrails in the bathroom, especially next to the bathtub and toilet. Non-slip rubber mats should be placed on the floor of the bathtub or shower room.

4. The elderly have 2 to 3 times higher requirements for lighting than young people, so the lighting at home should be improved to ensure that there is sufficient light indoors, which is also very important for preventing the elderly from falling. In addition, night lighting should be increased in corridors and bathrooms, and a table lamp that is easy to reach should be placed next to the elderly's bed.

5. Elderly people who cannot take care of themselves are prone to falling out of bed at night and causing fractures, so guardrails should be added beside the bed for protection.

Most elderly people who are able to move around want to go out for a walk, so what should they pay attention to when going out?

1. Wear light, non-slip shoes when going out. The soles should not be hard, and do not wear hard plastic-soled shoes. Women should not wear high heels or platform shoes with bare soles. The elderly should use crutches when going out.

2. Elderly people’s vision gradually declines. To prevent falling, they should not walk too fast. Also, they should not walk long distances, as the weak back muscles of the elderly may cause them to fall forward. Try not to carry heavy objects by hand, and don’t put your hands in your pockets, because swinging your hands back and forth can help you balance well.

3. Try not to go to densely populated areas, and keep a certain distance from motor vehicles and bicycles to avoid being knocked down. It is best to take public transportation when going out.

4. Elderly people with osteoporosis should try not to go out alone.

5. Actively prevent and treat basic diseases, such as cerebrovascular disease, bone and joint diseases, etc. Do joint exercises at home to increase joint flexibility and muscle coordination.

This article is produced by the Science Popularization China-Creation Cultivation Program. Please indicate the source when reprinting