Falls a serious hazard for older people

Editor's note: Jackson, a Register reporter, recently suffered a bone break from a fall. Here he writes about his experience with additional context and tips for older people provided by a local surgeon. SANDUSKY — It's a sad cliche: The old person falls down and breaks a bone. In this case, the old person was me. I'm 68. I was crossing the street after rain had started falling and slipped and fell. Various parts of my body were bruised, strained or scraped, but the main injury was a broken bone in my left wrist. "Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older. Older adult falls are common, costly and preventable," the CDC says. As this is a common hazard for older people, I reached out to a local expert, Dr. Robert Carlisle II, an experienced orthopedic surgeon associated with Firelands Health, and asked him for a little advice. "As we age, the risks of injuring yourself when you fall are much higher," Carlisle said. Bones get weaker as people age, so a serious injury is more likely for older people, he explained. And if an older person hits their head, the danger of brain bleeding is higher than if the person with the head injury is a teen, he said. Why prevention matters Carlisle, who decided to become an orthopedic surgeon when he was in middle school, said it's important for older people to try to avoid painful and possibly dangerous injuries from a fall. "The key when it comes to falls is prevention, prevention, prevention," he said. Wear good shoes, he advises. Flip-flops, Crocs and slippers should be avoided. Instead, wear a good, supportive shoe that covers the entire foot and provides good traction. Pay attention to weather conditions, and use caution. An older person should be particularly wary of snow and ice on the ground. Use a cane, if that's helpful. If you are feeling unsteady on your feet and have balance issues, or if your family notices that you are shuffling or having trouble getting out of a chair, talk to your doctor about physical therapy, he advised. Some older people should take calcium supplements and Vitamin D to strengthen their bones, he said. "A lot of that can be discussed with your primary care doctor," he said. When to go to the doctor If you do fall, pay attention to symptoms in figuring out whether you need to go to the hospital or to a doctor. If the injury is relatively minor, ice and over-the-counter pain medication should improve things in a day or two. If there's no improvement, see your doctor. If you can't put weight on your leg or if there's an obvious deformity in a wrist or leg, seek medical help immediately. A bang on the head that results in headaches, loss of balance or passing out should result in an immediate trip to the emergency room, in an ambulance if necessary. Common sense can be applied in evaluating head injuries. Hitting your head with a cabinet door when reaching for a coffee cup may not be a big deal, but slamming your head forcefully to the pavement after a fall is another story. Falls are serious for older people Falls are a huge health risk for older people, generally defined as folks 65 years old or older. "Over 14 million, or 1 in 4 older adults, report falling every year," the CDC says on the agency's website about the problem. "Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults ages 65 and older, and the fall death rate is increasing," the federal agency states. "The rising number of deaths from falls among older adults can be addressed by screening for fall risk and intervening to address risk factors such as use of medicines that may increase fall risk, or poor strength and balance," it added. A Browns prediction Carlisle played sports growing up and played football at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He is an avid Cleveland Browns fan. We asked him to diagnose the Browns' chances in the new NFL season. After the Browns went 3-0 in the preseason, "17-0 is not out of the question," Carlisle said solemnly. After this prediction was greeted with laughter, Carlisle modified his forecast. "Realistically, if we are at .500, that is a good season," he said. It is urgent for the Browns to figure out their quarterback solution, he said.