Are your elderly parents more at risk for a slip, trip or fall?

On Behalf of | Feb 3, 2022 | Personal Injury |

Even if your parents have enjoyed a healthy and active lifestyle so far, aging may make them increasingly vulnerable to catastrophic injuries in slip-and-fall accidents. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a person over the age of 65 slips and falls every single second in the U.S.

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Therefore, you may want to assess whether your parents have a heightened risk of slipping, tripping and following. Here are some factors that may put your mother and father in danger.

Eyesight, hearing and reflexes

Age has a way of slowing down anyone. When your parents reach their golden years, they are likely to have diminished eyesight and hearing. A reduction in visual and auditory acuity, of course, may cause your parents to overlook slip-and-fall hazards. Likewise, because their reflexes are likely to slow with age, your parents may not be able to catch themselves during a fall.

Balance

Your parents use their senses of balance to stay on their feet. Regrettably, certain age-associated medical conditions may interfere with balance. These include the following:

  • Dementia
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Thyroid disorders
  • Nerve conditions

To ensure your parents are healthy enough to balance effectively, you may want to schedule regular health screenings. An annual physical, for example, may alert you to changes in your parent’s ability to move safely.

If you determine your parents are more at risk for a slip, trip or fall, you may want to take steps to prevent serious injuries. Ultimately, though, if your parents fall in a public space or at a nursing home, they may be eligible for substantial financial compensation.