Common Reasons Older Adults End Up In The Emergency Room
Fall Related Injuries
Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. According to the National Council on Aging, a senior is treated in the emergency room every 13 seconds for injuries related to a fall! Older adults experience a fall for many reasons, including: torn carpets, unsteady stairs, poor nutrition, vision loss, medication causing dizziness, and balance problems.
Medication Mistakes and Side Effects
Problems with medications send millions of older adults to a hospital emergency room each year. Sometimes it is a dosage mistake—skipping a dose or taking too much—and other times it may be a side effect or adverse reaction.
Some prescription medications are more likely to cause problems than others. According to The New York Times, four medications are responsible for two-thirds of emergency room visits among seniors. They are blood thinners, insulin injections, aspirin, and oral diabetes drugs.
Complications From Diabetes
Older adults who have diabetes are at higher risk for hospitalization than peers who don’t have the condition. Complications like stroke, heart attack, dehydration, unstable blood sugar, wounds, and ulcers are a few leading reasons.
As our population continues to gray, the number of seniors in emergency rooms climbs. This has contributed to a rising trend of ERs designed to be senior-friendly. These specialty emergency rooms feature softer lighting, nonskid flooring, bedside toilets, thicker mattresses, and team members specifically trained in geriatric care.
The Thing That Greatly Reduces ER VisitsIf an older adult in your life is making repeated trips to the hospital emergency room, and refuses to move to assisted living, assisted living on wheels might help. Companies like Personal Choice Services offer in-home care and assistance with benefits ranging from medication reminders or management, meal preparation, housekeeping, personal hygiene, shower assistance, or companionship.
To find this kind of assistance in the Omaha area, Call us at 402-885-6700 to learn more!