How Falls Become Life-Altering Events for Seniors

When a baby first starts learning how to walk, falling is just as much a part of the process as the act of walking itself. The child is just getting its footing and often has to go through the necessary practice of falling down several times before they are able to gain their balance and stride through life as confidently as the older people around them. However, while falling is expected and even sometimes encouraged in babies and toddlers, the same is not true for aging adults. Falling can be an opportunity to share laughs with a baby as you train them, but is definitely no laughing matter for a senior who is of an advanced age. Something that seems so benign and innocent in a child can be catastrophic for an older adult. Read through the information that follows to learn more about how falls can serve as life-altering events for senior citizens.

Older Bones Can Be Brittle

The body is a miraculous instrument that is designed to rejuvenate and restore itself in many different ways. A strong immune system can combat many viruses and sicknesses, and strong bones and ligaments lead to greater flexibility and increased chances of bouncing back after a physical accident or ailment. Bone regeneration tends to increase until about age 30, at which point peak bone mass occurs. After this point, the bones tend to rebuild at a slower rate, and this phenomenon continues as you grow older.

When you understand that the bones take a longer time to regenerate as the years go by, it becomes much easier to understand why a fall can have such a devastating effect on the older, human body. Younger people are often better able to withstand a fall because their bones regenerate at a much more rapid pace. A fall that a teenager can recover from in a matter of minutes can take a senior citizen out of commission for several days, weeks or even months. Brittle bones require greater care and if you have an older loved one in your life, it’s important to keep this in mind as you consider their needs.

Neglect Can Lead To Falls

If you have a family member or friend who lives in a nursing home, it becomes very important to be on the lookout for signs of neglect or abuse. Older individuals with balance issues may require more assistance when they are performing activities such as bathing or getting dressed. If the team at the nursing home where they reside fails to provide this additional help, the results can be absolutely devastating. Your loved one could go from being a happy, thriving individual, to one who is bedridden and unable to enjoy the events that once meant so much to them.

Enlist The Professionals

Although finding out that your beloved friend or family member has fallen can be hard to process, it is important to move past the initial stages of grief and assemble the resources that can help you. After a fall, contact the team of nursing home abuse lawyers at Thomas Law Offices to get the ball rolling on receiving the justice and restitution that your relative deserves right away.