Elderly people should be more careful during pandemic times

India has the second largest population in the world at 1.21 billion according to the 2011 census. Of these, 8.6 per cent are over 60 years of age. By 2030, their number is expected to reach 198 million. Thus the growing demand for health care facilities to meet the needs of these ever-increasing elderly population will increase the quality of their lives.
Aging is a common process in human life. Due to this many changes take place not only physically but also mentally, socially and professionally. Although it is common for the body’s bone capacity to break down due to aging, the risk of aging due to aging for a variety of reasons, both at home and outside, is higher than the number of deaths.
Falling a person like this means accidentally, accidentally falling to the ground. There are a number of factors that contribute to this happening in the elderly, including those involved in their inner and outer worlds. According to a World Health Organization report on falling prevention, 28 to 35 percent of people over the age of 65 fall below average each year. It also revealed that their percentage increases with age. By the time India arrives, it is estimated that 14 to 53 per cent of those over 60 will fall and be at risk.
Falling down and the resulting problems are said to be the second largest cause of accidents. According to official figures, there were 424,000 cases worldwide in 2004, of which 11 percent were fatal. Statistics show that one-fifth of it took place in India. This fall can cause pain or numbness, as well as fractures and dislocations, as well as head fractures and, in some cases, death.
What is the reason for this to happen? However, most of them claim that it is a key factor in their social and economic status. Medical experts say that this is due to the sedentary lifestyle of those who suffer from chronic diseases. In addition, some research shows that older people are more likely to fall in the morning. Research shows that this is mainly due to the fact that they do more of their own chores in the morning, especially in bathrooms and gymnasiums. The damp, slippery floor, lack of proper lighting, bathrooms, and grilles or handles that provide grip on the stairs can also lead to these accidents. It is a well-known fact that bathrooms are not designed to meet the needs of the elderly, which in many cases causes them to fall.
In addition, medical experts say that older people are losing their grip because they do not choose the wheelchair or walking stick they use to suit their movements. These can cause them to slip and fall when walking, moving, or getting up from chairs, causing injuries.
They do not recover quickly from injury and old age due to repeated falls and hospital stays. In many cases, injuries are exacerbated internally and the risk increases because family members ignore them when there is no longer pain or injury. Medical experts say that in many cases, the fear of falling means that the Fear of Fall is more prevalent in the elderly and that they are more likely to slip and fall without realizing it. Because of all of this the elderly can also be observed to be dependent on others, afraid to move, prone to stress and anxiety. This means that the risk of falling in the future due to various physical and mental conditions that occur after a fall has been shown to decrease their quality of life.
However, there are no complete statistics on the reasons for the decline in developing countries. The same developed countries have accurate statistics on this and are focusing on them. These countries are taking a number of measures to prevent such a fall. However, there is no doubt that the number of elderly people who fall and are exposed to accidents is on the rise. Developed countries, especially India, still need to focus on this and investigate the causes and work to prevent them. However, some research in the country suggests that their socio-economic status, literacy and marital status may have contributed to this. Not only this, with the help of fire we can do welding.

This article is prepared by Dr.Uma Sreedevi, MD, Anaesthetist & Pain Physician, Head of Department, Dept of Anaesthesiology,  Aster Prime Hospital, Hyderabad