I have written many times about the importance of fitness and the fact that it is no less important as we age. However, this story drives it home: https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2023/05/15/fatal-falls-seniors/8501683914836/. Americans are dying of fall-related injuries at an alarming rate. However, it’s more than lack of fitness that is behind this gravitational epidemic.
I don’t want to plagiarize, so I’ll leave the reader to review the article. However, I can summarize by saying that many things lead to increased falls in seniors. Among them are the fact that patients are living longer with more serious illnesses, are taking medications that lower blood pressure or cause sedation and have naturally decreased muscle mass and balance.
This is made worse by the fact that so many seniors live alone with nobody to help them when they feel weak, when they stumble or when they fall and lie on the floor for hours (or days) as I so often see.
Then, once injured, they become even more susceptible to falls due to the discomfort or dysfunction of one or more injured extremities.
Another source of falls is that it can be hard for older persons to clean their homes so there is clutter lying about; sometimes it’s worse and they suffer from a hoarding disorder, and their homes become full of endless danger of fall, crush or fire.
Frequently, they are hesitant to report falls for fear that they will be forced to leave their treasured homes, which are last bastions of comfort and safety as they grow older and more infirm.
I am, however, convinced both biologically and theologically that we are meant for constant activity and motion. That, even when we cease to move in this life, we are meant to move in the next. The idea of a perpetual sedentary state is not only depressing but deadly. Moving and lifting make stronger muscles, and stronger muscles make us less likely to fall and more likely to be able to get up when we do. Also, by surrounding joints, they help us to avoid serious injury when we do tumble.
I was at a conference in New Orleans in April. While walking down the street without paying attention, I stepped in an open water line hole in the sidewalk. I fell and had severe injury to my pride — and to my left knee. A full month later, it is still difficult to walk. Thank God I am in pretty good shape with solid bone density. I could easily have snapped my lower leg.
The lesson for me was that falling is very easy, and even a minor injury can make simple activities very difficult. The hard truths about falls are multiplied many times in the lives of the elderly.
Society is aging. As such, we need to pay better attention to the causes of falls, to physical fitness in seniors, and to making sure that our vulnerable friends and family have help when they’re injured.
Gravity is very helpful. Until suddenly, it isn’t. And you find yourself face down in New Orleans, mourning your spilled sweet tea.