Falls Prevention Proposal

Final Paper: Falls Prevention Proposal
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Institutional Affiliations
Course Name and Number
Due Date
Final Paper: Falls Prevention Proposal
Introduction
The issue of falls among the elderly has become a public health problem of concern due to the associated ramifications. Studies illustrate global nations, including the United States and other developed countries, are starting to recognize the gravity of this issue in their societies (Whipple et al., 2017). While governments have been advancing programs for caring for the elderly in different settings, the case of falls has not received sufficient attention, as illustrated by inadequate modification of routine structures and other supporting elements in societies to accommodate the increasing number of elderly persons. According to Cuevas-Trisan (2019), the population of older adults is increasing at a high rate in various nations, and the United States is no exception. Khanuja et al. (2018) indicate that individuals over 65 years are the most vulnerable to age-related falls, and the risks increase with age. The authors acknowledge that gait and balance-based abnormalities emerge during these years, making falls a significant outcome. In this context, findings confirm that 35% of individuals aged over 70 years suffer from muscular degeneration, while the rate goes up to over 61% for those beyond 80 years (Khanuja et al., 2018). These statistics demonstrate that falls are commonplace among the elderly. As a result, the increasing number of elderly individuals in the nation, accompanied by a minimally adapted environment to these persons’ needs, illustrates this topic’s gravity.
The alarming reality is that most facilities and homes for the elderly are not adjusted to suit their gait and balance challenges. Khanuja et al. (2018) acknowledge these drawbacks and relate them to diverse adverse healthcare outcomes. In this context, Cuevas-Trisan (2019) illustrates the current consequences of this situation by providing a detailed report of the prevalence in the nation. For instance, the authors indicate that by 2014, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had recorded that 28.7% of older people in America had experienced a fall within the last 12 months. This percentage translates to approximately 29 million falls with potential morbidity and mortality-related injuries. Cuevas-Trisan (2019) further indicates that 2.8 million individuals received treatment for varied injury severity, with a significant proportion becoming candidates for hospitalization. Other studies by Burns and Kakara (2018) indicate that fall-related consequences have risen since 2007. The authors suggest that these falls are now ranked seventh among the leading causes of death in the United States, illustrating the seriousness of the problem. In 2016, the nation reported that about 29,668 citizens succumbed to falls, and the rate has increased. Cuevas-Trisan (2019) notes that although falls affect both genders indiscriminately, women say falling more than their male counterparts. The author underscores the value of identifying the diverse factors causing falls in homes, elderly care centers, and hospitals and devising the approp...