Falls prevention

This week, the Globe and Mail published an article about a new study that explored the link between medications and the risk of broken bones in older adults. The study found that older people who break a bone are often receiving medications that can increase the risk of falls. And, that despite the fracture, the patients studied typically did not stop taking the medications that put them at risk in the first place. Falls prevention is an important consideration for older adults. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling; and fractures are one of the main reasons for nursing home placement in people over the age of 65, as the article outlines. Falls can have significant consequences for the healthy aging process and it’s important to evaluate your risk factors. We’ve compiled the evidence related to this topic below.