Over a person's lifetime, the body almost always undergoes some wear and tear, which can affect the way the person gets around when they grow older. There are also a number of occurrences that occur naturally, such as the slowing down of responses in the brain, which can also have an impact on the day to day activities of a senior. While many of these factors are natural and occur in almost all people, the elderly are also at an increased risk for developing a number of diseases, with osteoporosis being a very serious condition among seniors.
Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the density of a person's bones and has been linked to calcium deficiency. In someone with osteoporosis, the bones will become much more brittle than normal and very easy to break. Often, very small falls that are relatively low impact will occur in a serious fracture.
Osteoporosis can affect people of any age, but it is more common among seniors. This is in part due to changes in the body, but poor diet and not obtaining enough nutrients can also be a factor. Osteoporosis can also affect people of both genders, but females are most at risk for osteoporosis, especially those who have already had menopause.
One of the most serious ways that osteoporosis effects the body is that it makes it much more likely that a fracture will occur. This can be very serious for seniors, as studies have concluded that recovering from a serious injury is much more difficult for the elderly. In fact, after a hip fracture, seniors are much more likely to have to move into an assisted care facility and over a third of seniors who experience a serious injury will not live for another year.
As a result of the very serious consequences of a fall, learning how to prevent senior falls is very important. In most cases, the senior will spend most of their time at home, so a big part of the focus should be on making all areas of the home safe and accessible. For many, the staircase represents the biggest and most serious risk, although all rooms, including the bathroom, living room, and even bedroom, each pose their own risks.
Of course, travel and activity away from the home should also always be considered. Using a rollator, which is a rolling walker, or some other standing aid is often a good idea when away from home, even if the senior does not have too much difficulty walking. When both at home and away, a pair of well made shoes with a non-skid sole is also essential.
Osteoporosis itself usually does not cause direct problems with a seniors health. Instead, it acts to weaken the bones, so when another accident, such as a fall, occurs, a much more serious injury occurs. Doctors have found that maintaining a healthy diet, with adequate calcium and Vitamin D intake, is very important for all seniors. This is especially true of women who have gone through menopause, as they are at a significantly larger risk of developing osteoporosis.
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A senior fall can be very serious and have a major impact on their health. Falls can happen anywhere, but among the elderly the most dangerous area is the staircase. This leads many seniors to avoid the stairs all together, or install a stair lift. Stair lifts are a type of lifting aid that carries the senior up the staircase, when they are unable to safely walk up the stairs. This can help prevent elderly falls and greatly reduce the risk of an accident on the stairs.
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