Falls Questions

1. Is there something to help my wife who gets dizzy in the...

   Most people don’t understand why they fall when they get out of bed, and it is often due to their blood pressure being too low for a standing position. When someone moves from lying down to upright, his or her blood pressure can take a few seconds to adjust to the position change, causing dizzinessss...
   1 Expert Answer

2. Will tail bone pain ever go away?

   Since you've had this tailbone (coccyx) pain for years, I doubt at this point in your life it will go away on its own. It sounds as though you may have injured the bone and/or damaged the nerves in that area when you fell 5 years ago. At this point, you have chronic pain, which is very different than acute pain...
   1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

3. When is the right time to put my mother in law in a wheelchair?

   When to use a wheelchair to prevent falls in what seems to be an increasingly frail older adult is a difficult question to address without having observed the older adult in various settings. First off, let me extend kudos to you for obtaining a physical therapy consultation and for helping your mother-in-law follow-up on the prescribed exercises...
   1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

4. Can't we admit my grandma with a broken hip where she'll get medical care instead of a nursing home?

   I've never heard of a hospital discharging a patient before they are ready for rehab. There are lots of uncertainties now among Medicare providers that due to proposed cuts, they will not be paid for services rendered. This hospital may be afraid that they will not be paid for your grandmother's stay...
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5. How is my mother's Physical Therapy going to work, if when she broke her hip, she also broke her shoulder?

   Your mother is lucky to have you for a daughter because her rehab will be complicated. A lot depends on which limbs are affected. Are the breaks on the same side or opposite sides? The therapists will have to develop her rehab plan accordingly...
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6. Why is a fall so dangerous and what can be done to prevent falls?

   Falls represent a hidden public health crisis. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury death among older adults. One third of adults over the age of 65 fall each year, and one third of those have injuries that reduce independence...
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7. What exercise moves should every senior do each day without fail?

   There are many exercises that will help keep people “on their feet”. We like these five for every day; they are easy to do and easy to remember.
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8. How can I help my 82-year-old mother overcome her fear of falling?

   You're right to be concerned about your mother: A fear of falling is actually a risk factor for falling. In your mother's case, her fear has led her to restrict her activities, which could lead to a decline in her physical abilities, putting her at greater risk of falling.
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9. What are your top five tips for preventing falls in the home?

   Here are our top 5 tips for preventing falls in the home:
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

10. What's the best way to catch my 91-year-old mother when she falls?

    Once the momentum of a fall starts, it's difficult to stop it. You're at risk of injuring her as well as yourself if you try to stop the fall. It's better to try to slow down the fall to prevent her from injuring herself and you.
    1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

11. Is it normal to still have pain three years after I broke my hip?

    Reading your question, I agree that you should not have this much pain if your hip is fixed, especially at your young age. My first thought is that there is something else causing your pain, such as sciatica, which is a painful nerve condition of the hip/buttocks on one side of the body...
    1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

12. Dad is refusing to eat after his surgery, is this typical for recovery or is he giving up?

    Sometimes people, like your father, who are facing a life-limiting disease appear to be “giving up” when the family sees a decline. Realize that your father has gone through a lot up to this point. He broke his hip, required surgery, and now resides in a nursing ...
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13. What could be the cause of frequent falls for my father?

    There are two kinds of falls in older adults: those that occur as a result of an accident, and those that signal there's some kind of underlying condition. The first kind is seen in more robust elders, can happen anywhere, either at or away from home, is normally a one-time occurrence, and -- if the person is injured -- usually results in a good recovery...
    1 Expert Answer, 5 Community Answers

14. Is one of the side effects of chemo a tendency to fall down?

    Chemotherapy can cause a number of side effects that can afffect your balance and movement and lead you to fall down more frequently. One of the most common side effects of many chemo drugs is central and peripheral neuropathy (injury to the nerves from chemotherapy that interferes with their normal function)...
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15. My father fell in a nursing home and I'm wondering if the nursing home should have liability insurance to cover his medical costs?

    To find out what insurance coverage the facility has, speak with -- or even better, write a letter to -- the facility administrator asking for information about their regular and medical liability insurance coverage. You will probably be referred to the facility's insurance company claims department...
    1 Expert Answer

16. Is it possible to regain muscle strenght after four months?

    Is it possible for a formerly strong and active 78 year old man (my father) to recover muscle use after 4 months of being bed-ridden due to surgery? The surgeries were a success but some set-backs (pneumonia, etc.) have kept him bedridden. Except for a feeding tube (abdominal entry) due to some swallowing difficulties, he is physically recovered...

17. How soon after a hip replacement can I travel out of the country?

    I had a hip replacement one year ago. I want to travel to South America. My surgeon is cautious about possibility of bacterial infections. How long after a hip surgery does one need to be extremely cautious or is this for a life time? Can I take antibiotics as a preventative measure?

18. How should we care for my mom, who has a broken bone?

    My mother is 88 and has broken her femur bone. Since her heart isn't too good, the doctors told us she had less than a 50% chance to make it through surgery. She went to a rehabilitation facility for a month and did some occupational therapy but she really still can't do much for that leg yet...

19. What can I do to help my wife regain confidence after a fall?

    Ever since my wife fell, she is so afraid of falling again, that she n longer wants to leave the house, and is really limiting he activities.  What can I do to help her?

20. What problems can I expect my grandmother to have after a hospital release for a fall?

    What problems can I expect my grandmother to have after a hospital release for a fall?