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.
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Tips for the Home:
Dress:
Watch the: 60 second television ad on falls prevention, Alone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2cfBBnt3Fo&feature=player_embedded
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AAOS has more resources on falls:
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.
-- 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.
SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons