PODIATRIST DISCUSSES FALL PREVENTION

According to Conway McLean, DPM, “Once again, Fall Prevention Month, occurring every September, has come and gone. Little mention was made of the event in the popular media this year, not indicative of its importance, which is reflected in the statistics. Roughly 36 million falls are reported each year among older adults. About 50 billion dollars are spent annually on the costs of caring for these falls, with 32,000 deaths occurring every year.”

 

Dr. Conway McLean

 

“The consequences of a fall for a senior citizen can be devastating. The immobility sometimes required for treatment of a simple broken leg can set in motion a downward spiral of events, from pneumonia to bed sores. A concussion can cause lasting changes in memory and cognition, while a broken hip may lead to permanent confinement to a wheelchair. But we know the factors increasing these risks: we need only raise awareness of the breadth of the problem and the many methods of mitigating the risks,” says Dr. McLean.

 

Source: Marquette Mining Journal [10/3/23]

Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News