Seniors have a higher risk of falling during a pandemic

TUESDAY, August. 3, 2021

Older Americans already face a higher risk of falls, but declining physical activity during the pandemic may have made matters worse, according to a new survey.

More than a third of the 2,074 U.S. adults aged 50 to 80 who took part in the online survey in January reported a decline in physical activity in the first 10 months of the pandemic, and 27% have stated that their physical condition – flexibility, muscle strength and endurance – had worsened. A quarter said they experienced a decrease in their ability to move around, including with a cane, walker or vehicle.

Overall, 36% of seniors reported an increased fear of falling, but rates were higher among those over 65 (46%) and women (44%), according to the National Survey on Aging in good health from the University of Michigan.

“Many older people fall each year, and the pandemic was no exception. Many falls result in at least one minor injury in this age group, and one-third require medical attention,” said Geoffrey Hoffman, professor. assistant to the University’s School of Nursing. and a falls researcher who worked with the survey team.

“Fitness can make a major difference in maintaining independence, including avoiding a fall, but also how well a person responds to and recovers from a fall,” Hoffman said in a college press release. “Focusing now on prevention, including physical health and activity, but also home safety and social factors that can increase risk, is crucial. “

Among those who said they feared falling, 23% said fear increased during the pandemic, but rates were much higher among those who reported less physical activity (32%), deteriorated physical condition (42 %) or reduced mobility (45%).

A quarter of those polled said they had a fall between the start of the pandemic in March 2020 and when the poll was taken, and 40% of those seniors had more than one fall.

The survey also showed that specific groups of older people – women, black adults, those struggling with loneliness, and those over 65 – may need additional help to improve their fitness and reduce the risk. fall, according to the researchers.

They said help could be provided by health and fitness providers, as well as family and friends.

Falls kill more than 32,000 elderly Americans each year.

The poll also found that 28% of seniors injured by falls during the pandemic delayed or did not receive the medical care they felt they needed. Of those, 40% said the pandemic was directly linked to this lack of care.

People who have lingering effects of a fall suffered during the pandemic – joint pain or reduced mobility and strength, for example – should seek rehabilitation and other care to avoid or reduce the risk of any other problems, recommended the researchers.

More information

The National Institute on Aging in the United States has more information on falls and fall prevention.

SOURCE: University of Michigan, press release, August 3, 2021

Robert Preidt

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