Elderly at High Risk for Head Injuries

A recent study by researchers from Simon Fraser University found that seniors in long-term care facilities are at a high risk for head injuries, with nearly 40 percent of those who fell experiencing head impact.

The researchers examined video footage of 227 falls among 133 residents at a pair of local long-term care facilities over the past three years. They found that 37 percent of falling residents struck heads upon falling and hitting the ground-most often on vinyl or linoleum floors at more than 60 percent of the time. The researchers also concluded, via a press release that "By any measure, this is an alarmingly high prevalence."

They suggest that more should be done in order to design safer environments that could improve procedures used to detect possible brain injuries among those who fall and promote strengthening via upper limb exercises. Advances in the best medical alert systems like the Medical Guardian, which automatically calls for help if the user falls.

"It's a rising trend that is poorly understood," lead study author Stephen Robinovitch said, via a press release. The professor of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology at SFU notes that falls are the number-one cause of injury and among the top-10 causes of deaths of older adults in Canada.

SFU's fall-related research aims to improve fall prevention strategies, from the design of assistive devices, including wheelchairs or walkers, to planning of care facilities.

Robinovitch oversees SFU's Injury Prevention and Mobility Lab, where testing continues on wearable fall sensors and advanced protective gear, such as hip protectors. The researchers note that testing is being completed via the compliant floor in which he says the building code changes for safer environments. 

Robinovitch's team heads up TIPS (Technology for Injury Prevention in Seniors), a Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) funded program that brings together experts on aging and mobility research to utilize and develop new technologies.

More information regarding the study can be found via the Canadian Medical Association Journal.