Recent statistics from the Royal Melbourne Hospital have highlighted falls as the biggest cause of hospital admissions, followed by chest pain.
In 2014, 540 people aged 70 and over were admitted as a result of collapsing, with more than 60 per cent of these incidents taking place in the home.
These figures come as no surprise to Nina Xarhakos, accidents support officer for the Australian Greek Welfare Society, who has seen the growing number of occurrences firsthand.
“Amongst the elderly most of the falls occur in the home environment and there are numerous reasons; people’s health issues – they might have weakness and balance issues, there might be tripping hazards in the home, no disability aids or equipment to assist them with their mobility,” she explains.
“I always tell people if they live alone, it’s very important that they have a personal alarm in order to be able to press it and they can have someone come to their aid.”
One fall, however, can have further implications, in some cases increasing physical limitations, resulting in isolation and a lack of independence.
Precautions can be taken to avoid such incidents, says Ms Xarhakos, for example, making sure cupboards and drawers are closed after use, in addition to replacing a walking stick with a frame for greater stability and balance.
For those experiencing difficulties when getting out of bed, a bed stick can be installed to give greater support. While the bathroom can be a particularly hazardous spot, at the very least a seat can be used while showering, along with the installation of rails next to the toilet.
To help assess hazards, she advises organising a home visit from an occupational therapist through the local council’s community health centre.
“One thing I observe when going to people’s homes is that very often there can be a lot of clutter, which reduces entry to key areas so they have a very narrow walkway.
“A trained eye like that can pick up tripping hazards, the absence of rails, the possible need for a ramp if someone is unable to negotiate steps – and this can be done free of charge,” she tells.
Other lifestyle changes, such as implementing gentle exercises with the assistance of a physiotherapist, have proven to strengthen muscles and lower the prevalence of falls.
“Tai chi, whilst it may be rather foreign to Greeks, is a gentle exercise that has certainly served the Chinese and other Asian nationalities well, and it’s demonstrated that people who engage in tai chi have fewer falls,” she said.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has recognised this as a prevalent issue across the nation, attributing it to the growing ageing demographic.
Figures released show that between 2011-12, 96,385 people over the age of 65 were hospitalised due to an injury connected to a fall – three and a half times as many as 45-64-year-olds.
“A fall can change people’s lives dramatically. Somebody who’s on a blood thinner like warfarin could actually bleed to death. It’s something that should be looked at by government as a top priority,” said Ms Xarhakos.
“Unless you’re willing to make a change, your likelihood of falling again is extremely high. One fall can change your life the way that a serious car accident can.”