According to the Daily Mail, a senior couple died falling down stairs at their home in Failsworth, Greater Manchester. Apparently John Wood, 67, stumbled at the top of the stairs and Mary Murphy, 66, fell down the stairs in a desperate attempt to save her partner. As tragic and bizarre as this accident may seem, falls are a major concern according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC estimates that each year millions of older people, those 65 years and older, fall. It is believed that more than 1 out of 4 older people fall each year and falling once unfortunately doubles your chance of falling again.
A person’s quality of life is dramatically impacted after a fall, regardless of the physically effects of the fall. This is because a growing number of seniors fear falling and therefore limit their movements and social activities.
Most Falls Happen At Home
According to the National Institute on Aging, most falls happen at home while a person is doing normal activities. Scientists have linked a number of risk factors to falling, such as
- Muscle weakness
- Blood pressure that drops too much when you get up from lying down
- Your reflexes may also be slower than when you were younger
- Foot problems that cause painful feet
- Vision problems
Since falling down stairs can significantly increase the injuries associated with a fall, families should consider ways to minimize the risk of older family members falling down stairs. While many people may consider moving a senior out of a home with stairs, expenses related to real estate fees, moving and storage fees and taxes can add up quickly. Worldwide ERC estimates that the cost of an average move within the US is $12,459.
A more affordable solution is a stairlift that safely transports the older person up and down the stairs while folding out of the way when not in use. Additionally, stairlifts mount to the stairs, not the walls so they can be installed in hours and do not require structural changes to the home.
According to the Daily Mail, a senior couple died falling down stairs at their home in Failsworth, Greater Manchester. Apparently John Wood, 67, stumbled at the top of the stairs and Mary Murphy, 66, fell down the stairs in a desperate attempt to save her partner. As tragic and bizarre as this accident may seem, falls are a major concern according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC estimates that each year millions of older people, those 65 years and older, fall. It is believed that more than 1 out of 4 older people fall each year and falling once unfortunately doubles your chance of falling again.
A person’s quality of life is dramatically impacted after a fall, regardless of the physically effects of the fall. This is because a growing number of seniors fear falling and therefore limit their movements and social activities.
Most Falls Happen At Home
According to the National Institute on Aging, most falls happen at home while a person is doing normal activities. Scientists have linked a number of risk factors to falling, such as
- Muscle weakness
- Blood pressure that drops too much when you get up from lying down
- Your reflexes may also be slower than when you were younger
- Foot problems that cause painful feet
- Vision problems
Since falling down stairs can significantly increase the injuries associated with a fall, families should consider ways to minimize the risk of older family members falling down stairs. While many people may consider moving a senior out of a home with stairs, expenses related to real estate fees, moving and storage fees and taxes can add up quickly. Worldwide ERC estimates that the cost of an average move within the US is $12,459.
A more affordable solution is a stairlift that safely transports the older person up and down the stairs while folding out of the way when not in use. Additionally, stairlifts mount to the stairs, not the walls so they can be installed in hours and do not require structural changes to the home.
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