What are the causes of falls among older age group? - Dr. Anitha Arockiasamy

Falls are the common fear in elders. Age is one of the key risk factors for falls. Older people have the highest risk of death or serious injury arising from a fall and the risk increases with age.If once fall then the side effects are higher mainly in elder age people.The risk factors responsible for a fall can be intrinsic (i.e., age-related physiologic changes, diseases and medications) or extrinsic (i.e., environmental hazards). It is essential to remember that a single fall may have multiple causes, and repeated falls may each have a different etiology. Thus, it is critical to evaluate each occurrence separately.
Intrinsic Factors. Normal physical and mental changes related to aging (but not associated with disease) decrease functional reserve. As a result, elderly patients become more susceptible to falls when they are confronted with any challenge. Some age-related changes are not necessarily “normal,” but they are modifiable. When possible, these conditions should be treated.nVirtually any acute or chronic disease can cause or contribute to falls.
A variety of extrinsic factors, such as poor lighting, unsafe stairways and irregular floor surfaces, are involved in falls among the elderly. Many of these factors can be modified..