Nancy Reagan Reminds Us Of The Serious Consequences Of Slip And Fall Accidents: Fall Prevention And

By Author: Erica Ronchetti
Total Articles: 739
Comment this article

Continuing the political legacy of her late husband, former first lady Nancy Regan (now 90 years young) still plays an active role in frequent events. Freshman senator Marc Rubio walked Mrs. Reagan down the aisle to applause from 1,200 guests and an overflowing crowd. As they neared her seat, she lost her footing and her cane appeared to slip on the floor and she began to fall toward a hard landing. Fortunately, Rubio caught her arm and Mrs. Reagan was assisted to her feet and to a chair.

Although Nancy was unhurt, her public slip serves as a reminder of the serious consequences and health complications associated with the slips, trips, and falls for older Americans. It became known Mrs. Reagan had previously suffered a fractured pelvis from a fall in 2008 that required hospitalization.

Falls are not unusual for individuals 65 and older—in fact, they are the second leading cause of accidental death in America. 75% of these falls occur in the older adult population. Age itself does not put you at risk for falls—in many cases as people age, they accumulate more conditions, ...
... illnesses, and impairments that make them more prone to accidents. These include balance problems, difficulties with memory, vision, hearing problems, decreased flexibility and strength, even depression as well. In some cases, medication prescribed to help old age impairments can contribute to these falls. Drugs may cause older loved ones to feel off-balance, alter blood pressure, or decrease alertness.

According to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one out of three adults in the 65 and older age group suffers a fall each year. The national Safety council says falls are the leading cause of injury deaths for individuals age 65 and older. Senior falls can have severe consequences, as Nancy Reagan previously experienced, such as head trauma, hip fractures, and in some instances, death. Since the year 2007, the CDC has reported more than 18,000 deaths of older adults from unintentional fall injuries.

The less mobile and functional an individual is, the more increased the chances of a fall. we would like to share the following fall prevention tips to help keep yourself and your family members safe:

Be aware of blood pressure, both while standing and sitting.
Exercise regularly. Try leg strength, improved balance, gentle yoga, and other strengthening exercises such as Tai Chi.
Make your home a safer place by reducing common tripping hazards. These include clutter, rugs, poorly lit spaces, and cords on the ground. The actual cause of Nancy Reagan’s fall? She tripped over a stanchion used to hold ropes for crowd control.
It’s a good idea to install grab bars and railings in the bathroom and wherever else necessary.
Have your loved one’s eyes checked by an eye doctor frequently, at least once a year and be sure that eyeglasses are the correct prescription.
Wear slippers with good soles around the house, and make sure to put them on if you get up and walk around at night. A fall is more likely to happen with socks or bare feet.
Have a doctor review medicines, both prescription and over the counter to determine if side effects or any interactions may cause drowsiness or dizziness.

Falls not only affect an individual’s quality of life, they also affect that of their caregivers, family members, and loved ones. Because the majority of senior falls do occur in familiar home environments, home care nurses are available to make the home environments of seniors more secure, improving their quality of life. Senior loved ones can benefit from a little extra safety or support from modifications to the home.

Home care nurses and respite care providers can identify and lessen home safety risks and fall risks for older loved ones who choose to live at home. Fall prevention is key to preventing and minimizing fall injuries. Your respite care provider may suggest wearing a hip-protecting garment if prone accidents--this garment serves to greatly reduce the possibility of a hip fracture.

As mentioned, seniors who are sedentary are at greater risk for osteoporosis and are more prone to fractures. A senior home care program in addition to care provided by relatives can help keep senior loved ones active, confident, maintain good activity level, in addition helping them about the house. If your loved one is unable to complete everyday tasks, home care nurses can take care of activities, such as maintenance and cleaning that could pose a risk.


Senior home care programs are truly a godsend in the event a injury or accident does occur. In a worst case scenario, an elderly loved one could fall and remain on the floor, injured for some time because he or she lives alone. They may be unable to move or unable to make a phone call. Home care nurses can assist by regularly checking in, calling, and visiting elderly loved ones regularly to ensure they are cared for and safe. Should your senior loved one suffer a fall or accident, home care nurses get help quickly. Learn more about home care nurses and fall prevention tips at Visitingangels.com.


Please visit our brochure library to learn more about fall prevention and caregiver assistance. Visitingangels.com/brochure-library.

Erica Ronchetti is a freelance writer working with Visiting Angels to help people learn what their options are when faced with the responsibility of senior home care. For more information and options about elder care, and fall prevention, please visit our site today!