Why Does My 70 Year Old Keep Falling? Causes and Prevention

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one in four adults aged 65 and older fall each year. If your 70 year old keeps falling, it is not a normal part of aging but rather a sign of underlying issues that need to be addressed to ensure their safety and independence.

Quick Summary

Chronic falls in older adults are often caused by a combination of physical changes, medication side effects, underlying medical conditions, and environmental hazards. A proactive approach involves a medical evaluation, home safety modifications, and tailored exercise to improve strength and balance.

Key Points

• Start with a Medical Evaluation: A doctor can assess underlying medical conditions, review medications, and check vision and hearing to identify core causes of falling.

• Address Age-Related Changes: Muscle weakness (sarcopenia), balance issues, and reduced flexibility are common aging factors that increase fall risk.

• Review All Medications: Many prescription and over-the-counter drugs, especially sedatives, antidepressants, and blood pressure medications, can cause dizziness or confusion.

• Create a Safer Home Environment: Modify the living space by improving lighting, removing clutter and throw rugs, and installing grab bars and handrails.

• Embrace Physical Therapy: A physical therapist can design a customized exercise plan to improve strength, balance, and gait, helping to build confidence and stability.

• Choose the Right Footwear: Encourage the use of sturdy, well-fitting, non-slip shoes and discourage walking barefoot or in socks on smooth floors.

• Don't Ignore the First Fall: A single fall is a significant warning sign that should prompt immediate investigation and preventative action.

• Stand Up Slowly: Postural hypotension, a common issue, can be managed by sitting on the edge of the bed for a moment before standing.

Understanding the Root Causes of Falls in Seniors

Frequent falls in a 70-year-old are rarely due to a single factor but result from a complex interaction of physical, medical, and environmental issues. Addressing the problem requires a comprehensive assessment to pinpoint the specific risk factors involved.

Age-Related Physiological Changes

As the body ages, several natural changes can diminish stability and increase the likelihood of falls.

• Muscle weakness (Sarcopenia): The natural, age-related decline in muscle mass and strength, known as sarcopenia, weakens the legs and core, making it harder to maintain balance and recover from a stumble.
• Balance and gait problems: The vestibular system in the inner ear, which controls balance, can degenerate over time. Combined with changes in walking patterns (gait), this creates instability, especially on uneven surfaces.
• Reduced flexibility and reflexes: Joints become stiffer and reaction times slow down, limiting the ability to make quick, corrective movements to prevent a fall.
• Vision and hearing impairment: Poorer eyesight affects depth perception, making it difficult to spot hazards like uneven flooring or misplaced objects. Declining hearing also plays a role in balance perception.

Medical Conditions That Increase Fall Risk

Several chronic and acute medical issues can contribute to recurrent falls.

• Postural Hypotension: A sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up from a sitting or lying position can cause dizziness and lightheadedness.
• Neurological Disorders: Conditions like Parkinson's disease, dementia, and stroke can affect balance, coordination, and cognitive function, all of which increase fall risk.
• Cardiovascular Issues: Heart diseases and poor circulation can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, or dizziness, affecting stability.
• Arthritis: Pain and stiffness in the joints can impact mobility and alter a person's gait.
• Diabetes: Nerve damage (neuropathy) from diabetes can cause numbness in the feet, reducing sensation and awareness of the ground. Fluctuations in blood sugar can also cause dizziness.
• Urinary Incontinence: The urgent need to get to the bathroom quickly can increase the risk of rushing and falling, especially at night.

Medication-Related Issues

Polypharmacy, or taking multiple medications, is a significant risk factor for falls in older adults. Certain drug classes are particularly concerning.

• Sedatives and Antidepressants: These medications can cause drowsiness, confusion, and dizziness.
• Blood Pressure Medications: Some drugs for hypertension can cause orthostatic hypotension, where standing up too quickly leads to dizziness.
• Opioids and Muscle Relaxants: Pain relievers and muscle relaxants can induce sedation and impair cognitive function.
• Antihistamines: Certain allergy medications, including over-the-counter varieties, can cause sleepiness.

Environmental and Behavioral Hazards

Many falls happen in and around the home due to preventable hazards.

• Poor Lighting: Dim lighting in hallways, staircases, and bathrooms makes it difficult to see obstacles.
• Clutter and Trip Hazards: Loose throw rugs, electrical cords, uneven floors, and general clutter are major culprits.
• Unsafe Footwear: Slippers with slick soles or walking in socks can increase the risk of slipping.
• Lack of Support: The absence of grab bars in the bathroom and handrails on both sides of staircases removes crucial support.

Actionable Prevention Strategies for Caregivers

If your 70-year-old is falling, it is essential to act quickly. Consulting a healthcare provider for a comprehensive fall risk assessment is the first and most important step.

Home Safety vs. Physical Interventions

Aspect	Home Safety Modifications	Physical Interventions (with PT)
Focus	Reducing environmental hazards and improving accessibility.	Improving the senior's physical capabilities and correcting underlying issues.
Examples	Installing grab bars, improving lighting, removing loose rugs, ensuring clear pathways, using non-slip bath mats.	Balance training (e.g., Tai Chi), strength training for legs and core, gait training, flexibility exercises.
Benefits	Prevents trips, slips, and missteps by creating a safer, more predictable environment.	Improves strength, balance, coordination, and confidence, empowering the individual to move more safely.
Best For	Addressing immediate, practical risks in the living space.	Addressing intrinsic, age-related and health-related factors contributing to instability.
Professional	Can be done by caregivers, but an Occupational Therapist (OT) can provide an expert home assessment.	Should be guided by a Physical Therapist (PT) who can tailor a program to the individual's specific needs.

Comprehensive Prevention List

To reduce the risk of future falls, consider a multifaceted approach involving medical management, home modifications, and lifestyle adjustments.

1. Medical Evaluation: Schedule a check-up with a doctor to review all medications, identify underlying conditions, and assess vision, hearing, and balance.
2. Physical Therapy: A physical therapist can create a personalized exercise program to improve strength, flexibility, and balance.
3. Home Assessment: Use a checklist from resources like the National Council on Aging (NCOA) or consult an Occupational Therapist to identify and correct home hazards.
4. Proper Footwear: Ensure your loved one wears well-fitting, sturdy shoes with non-slip soles both inside and outside the home.
5. Assistive Devices: If recommended by a doctor or physical therapist, use walking aids like canes or walkers, and ensure they are properly fitted.
6. Nutritional Support: Ensure adequate intake of Vitamin D and calcium for bone health, and proper hydration to prevent dizziness.

Conclusion

While a 70-year-old repeatedly falling can be alarming, it is a problem with identifiable causes and effective solutions. The most important step is to avoid dismissing it as an inevitable part of aging. A comprehensive approach—including a medical consultation, a medication review, and targeted home and lifestyle changes—can significantly reduce fall risk and restore confidence. By addressing the physiological changes and environmental factors that lead to falls, caregivers can help ensure the safety, independence, and overall well-being of their loved one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal for a 70 year old to keep falling?

No, while fall risk increases with age, frequent falling is not a normal part of aging and is often a sign of underlying health or environmental issues that need attention.

How can medication side effects cause falls in older adults?

Medications such as sedatives, antidepressants, and blood pressure pills can cause dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing, all of which increase fall risk.

What is sarcopenia and how does it relate to falls?

Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. It weakens the muscles required for balance and stability, making it harder for a senior to correct themselves when they trip or stumble.

What kind of exercises can help with balance?

Exercises like Tai Chi, yoga, and walking can improve balance and strength. A physical therapist can also create a personalized routine based on the individual's specific needs.

What home modifications can reduce fall risk?

Effective home modifications include removing loose rugs and clutter, improving lighting in all areas, and installing grab bars in bathrooms and sturdy handrails on staircases.

Should a senior use a walker or cane after falling?

Using a properly fitted walker or cane, as recommended by a doctor or physical therapist, can significantly improve stability and reduce the risk of future falls. Incorrectly fitted devices can do more harm than good.

What should I do immediately after my 70 year old falls?

Check for any injuries. If there is a serious injury, call 911. If the fall was minor, help them get up safely and schedule a doctor's appointment to investigate the cause.