Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations and injury-related deaths among Canadians aged 65 or older. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, seniors with dementia have a higher risk of falls, in long-term care and the community, compared to other seniors. For example, some 16% of hospital admissions by seniors living with dementia are related to a fall. This numbers drops to just with just 7% among other seniors.
And that’s something Megan wishes she knew before her mother took a tumble this fall.
“My mother’s dementia is worsening. She knew we were coming for a visit, but got mixed up on the times. She decided to set out on her own,” Megan says. “Within minutes she was lost. She’d forgotten her cane which made matters worse. When we finally found her, she was lying on the back lawn of a restaurant here, in White Rock.”
That moment now keeps Megan up at night. She’s changing her mother’s care plan to build in more supervision. Still, she blames herself for the fall that broke three of her mother’s ribs.
“I’ve never been here before, helping a senior citizen manage dementia,” Megan admits. “We thought eliminating obstacles in her living space was enough. What we didn’t realize was just how much dementia actually increases the risk of falling. That was news to me.”
One in three older adults fall annually in British Columbia
Falls become increasingly dangerous as we age. In British Columbia, one in three older adults will once every year. Local injury research shows around half of older adults who fall experience minor injuries, while 5 to 25% sustain more serious outcomes.
Dementia — which can cause restlessness, agitation, mobility and balance challenges in addition to more well-known cognitive issues — ups the chances of someone losing their footing. At elder and in-home senior care provider TheKey Vancouver, General Manager Sharon Speirs says falls are a common reason why families contact her team.
“We hear often from adult sons and daughters whose parents have fallen and injured themselves, moving them to explore what kind of caregiving and supervision services we offer,” Speirs explains. “Our caregivers can help with fall prevention, which is hugely important given that it’s often the hospital stay or lingering injuries resulting from a fall that affect seniors in the long run.”
When Speirs’ caregivers meet new clients across the Vancouver area, they bring fresh eyes and perspective to spot any hazards or mobility challenges that might increase the chance of a fall. Through regular caregiving, they also builds relationships with clients. This helps them understand how a person’s physical abilities are changing and what else might be done to help prevent a fall.
“Naturally, most of us think about memory loss when we hear the word dementia. But there’s also a certain restlessness that occurs when a senior is living with this condition. They’re prone to pacing the floor, and can have a hard time being still,” says Speirs. “Those kinds of behaviours can be unsafe for someone who’s not necessarily stable on their feet, or may be confused about where they area.”
She says these and other factors make it increasingly important for seniors with dementia to have the right level of supervision for their life stage. Speirs credits TheKey Vancouver’s holistic approach to caregiving as a vital component of that process. “We’re all about holistic care. We provide companionship while looking after a senior’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing using our Balanced Care MethodTM. This allows us to evaluate emerging risks, and help mitigate them for seniors and their loved ones.”
In Jasmine’s case, knowing her mother has more caregiving support has been a game changer. She rests a little easier because her mom is supervised more of the time. “Mom no longer goes out on her own. Just that reduces my stress level. She loves the company, too, which is another bonus for our entire family.”