CHI Health informs seniors about fall prevention

KEARNEY, Neb. (KSNB) - Each year, 2.5 million people over 65-years-old go to emergency rooms due to fall related injuries, and 250,000 of them are hospitalized for hip fractures.

Health professionals with CHI Health Good Samaritan said falls are frequently treated in the Kearney area. They took the time Wednesday to speak to seniors at Kearney Manor about ways to prevent falls.

“I would say falls are our number one thing bringing people in to our local ER and nationwide it’s probably one of the number one things bringing people to the hospital,” said Tracy Rademacher, Trauma Outreach Coordinator at CHI Health Good Samaritan. “We see falls every month with senior citizens. It’s probably the number one cause of broken hips and knee injuries and it can also lead to head trauma.”

Rademacher aims to inform seniors on other risk factors associated with falls.

“Things that they can do to decrease their risk of falling are to see their doctor annually, make sure you’re getting those checkups done, also get your eyes checked frequently. Every year is a good reason to have that done,” said Rademacher.

Rademacher said seniors should also check their medication for side effects that could cause an injury or fall. She said exercising will help prevent falls.

“Some seniors think it’s too expensive or it’s going to cost a lot of money to go do an exercise program. But simply getting a good pair of sneakers and getting out and getting active, get a group of people in your community that might want to go walk and do those kind of things with you would be a great idea.”

She said although falls are common, most seniors are reluctant to tell their medical provider about a fall. It’s because they don’t want to admit that it happened to them.

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