Fear of Falling
August 27, 2010 - Reports & Studies
“An elderly person’s fear of falling can actually exacerbate underlying physical conditions, creating a ‘vicious circle,’ which could lead to a greater risk of falling,” according to May 17, 2010 story in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. Falling often will disable a person, making them unable to function independently. They may be forced into requiring extensive long-term services and supports, according to the article “Gait Disturbances in Old Age,” from the Neurological Hospital and Health Center of the Ludwig Maximilians University in Germany.
“Gait disturbances, or difficulty walking as a result of old age, often have many causes,” the article said. “These can include visual defects, neurodegeneration of the motor cortex, taking medication or drinking alcohol, and anxiety over falls. Those elderly individuals who are afraid of falling typically restrict their own movements, inadvertently worsening the physical conditions they may have, and contributing to a greater risk of falls.” The research study found that “85% of 60-year-olds still walk normally, but only 20% of 85-year-olds do. “The latter fact also implies, however, that gait disturbances are not an inevitable accompaniment of old age. Problems of balance and gait are associated with immobility and falls, which markedly impair the quality of life. About 30% of persons over age 65 living at home fall at least once per year; among nursing home residents, the corresponding figure is about 50%. Mobility is often restricted still further by the fear of falling. Patients visiting their family physician because of gait disturbances complain most often of pain, joint stiffness, numbness, weakness, and an abnormal pattern of gait.”