If you fall down, you could get right back up or you could suffer debilitating injuries that cause chronic pain. The likelihood of suffering a serious injury because of a fall increases as you age.
Understanding why your age may determine how well you fare after falling can encourage you to take adequate precautions.
Difficulty recovering
One of the reasons why falls are so dangerous the older you get is because your body lacks the resources to recover efficiently. For example, if you fall and break your hip, you may need surgery to fix the damage. You could suffer a number of complications including blood clotting and pneumonia. If not addressed fast enough, your quality of life could suffer and your lifespan could drop significantly.
Staying active and maintaining good health can strengthen your body systems and your response to trauma. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, National Institute on Aging, do not allow the fear of falling to diminish your activity level. You can still go for walks, shop and participate in family events. If you feel uncomfortable doing those things alone, ask someone you trust to accompany you.
Loss of independence
Another complication of falling as you age is the unavoidable loss of independence. Depending on the severity of your fall and resulting injuries, your loss of independence may only last temporarily. However, if you experience ongoing complications, you may never get back to the point where you can live independently.
Having to rely on other people to care for you can cause you to feel helpless. If this does happen, use your creativity to find ways that you can participate in your care. This can give you a sense of accomplishment and pride.