Slipping and falling can inflict serious injury and negatively damage the health of a person, perhaps for a long time. In particular, senior citizens are at greater risk of falling and suffering life-altering consequences. While some seniors die after suffering a fall, Aging Care explains that older people who do survive a fall may not survive the care needed to recover or will face great challenges in restoring their health.
Compared to young people, seniors are weaker physically and tend to have pre-existing health problems. A fall can hasten the declining health of a senior and cause early death. Seniors who reach a hospital after a fall might not survive a care procedure. A broken hip, for example, may require surgery. Some seniors may not be able to handle the anesthesia needed, or they might suffer complications during surgery.
A hospital stay itself could pose risks to older individuals. Compared to younger patients, many seniors need a longer recovery period in the hospital. This can expose a senior to hospital-related maladies, such as infections. Hospitals may infect seniors with urinary tract infections (UTIs), sepsis, or pneumonia. A senior who survives a fall could conceivably suffer an infection that might prolong the hospital stay further or result in death.
Even seniors who complete their care and leave the hospital might never be the same again. Some seniors, scared of the possibility of falling again, restrict themselves from activities that might expose themselves to a fall risk. However, a lack of exercise or activity could weaken their bodies and actually increase their risk of falling again. Some seniors suffer depression after a fall, or worse, start to develop dementia.
