Zsa Zsa Gabor's fall prompts orthopaedic surgeons' advisory to seniors and caregivers

ROSEMONT, Ill., July 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Approximately 66 million Americans care for their aging parents and each year, one in three older Americans fall in their own home.  Just this week, 93-year-old actress Zsa Zsa Gabor fell out of bed and broke her hip, ultimately she required hip replacement surgery.  The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) knows that a fall in the home can be both life threatening and debilitating.  Older Americans and their caregivers can take a proactive approach using the following AAOS guidelines to help keep seniors fall and injury-free.

Tips for the Home:

• Eliminate all tripping hazards, such as loose rugs in the home.
• Install grab bars or handrails on both sides of the stairway and other safety devices near bathtubs and beds.
• Place a lamp or flashlight near the bed.
• Keep clutter – like pets' toys or papers – off the bedroom floor.
• Replace satiny bed sheets with products made of non-slippery material; i.e. wool or cotton.
• Arrange furniture to allow a clear pathway between rooms.
• Secure loose rugs with double-faced tape, tacks or slip-resistant backing.
• Keep stairs clear of packages, boxes or other clutter.
• Install light-switches at the top and bottom of the stairs. Or, try motion-detector lights that turn on automatically.  
• Put non-slip treads on each bare-wood step.
• Consider adding rails to the bed to prevent the sleeping person from rolling off.
• Keep track of pets, as these creatures are responsible for more than 86,000 fall-related injuries each year.  

Dress:

• Wear properly-fitting shoes or slippers with non-skid soles, throughout the home and especially on stairs.
• Replace slippers that have stretched out of shape and are too loose.
• Never walk with socks or stockings on hardwood floors.    
• Think about wearing an alarm device that will bring help in case you cannot get up from a fall.  

Watch the: 60 second television ad on falls prevention, Alone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2cfBBnt3Fo&feature=player_embedded

AAOS has more resources on falls:

• Guidelines for preventing falls
• Getting up from a fall
• Lifting techniques for caregivers

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

With more than 35,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (www.aaos.org or www.orthoinfo.org) is the premier not-for-profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals, champions the interests of patients and advances the highest quality musculoskeletal health. An orthopaedic surgeon is a physician who treats the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves.  Follow the conversation at www.facebook.com/AAOS1 or www.twitter.com/AAOS1.

SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.aaos.org
http://www.orthoinfo.org