Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 11-29-23

26 I MATURE FOCUS I
November 29, 2023
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News & Notes
By LISA RUSSELL
Preventing holiday falls
For older adults and those who care for
them, the holidays can quickly turn from
joyful to disastrous due to an accidental
fall. According to data from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, emergency
departments record about 20 million visits a
year due to fall injuries… and the number of
falls generally reaches its peak in December.
Many falls that occur at this time of year
can be prevented with a little thoughtful
planning, however. Following are some
tips from the University of Chicago’s
Successful Aging and Frailty Evaluation
(SAFE) Clinic for making your home as
“fall-safe” as possible this holiday season.
Decorating hazards: Using a ladder to
string holiday lights or hang ornaments
is a major cause of the deadliest fall accidents.
It’s important to ask for help or hire
assistance for aging loved ones who plan
to continue those decorating traditions
this year. The lights themselves can also
cause disorientation that leads to a fall for
those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia,
so avoid using flashing, twinkling, or animated
lights to prevent possible injuries.
Tripping hazards: While it’s customary
to display gifts underneath the tree,
this creates a risk for trips and falls, so
keep them off the floor if possible. Electrical
cords connected to trees and other
lighted items also create major tripping
hazards if not secured out of the way. Floor
decorations such as trains, rugs, figurines
and other holiday items can significantly
increase fall risks as well, so be mindful
to keep these items out of walkways and
leave plenty of room for older residents
and holiday guests to navigate.
Outdoor hazards: Keep sidewalks,
driveways and steps clear of decorations.
In bad weather, clear any ice and snow and
make sure surfaces are well-salted. Provide
ample exterior lighting to allow visitors
to clearly see where they are stepping
and walking.
Party hazards: At gatherings, make
sure any spills are cleaned up promptly to
minimize the risk of slip-and-fall accidents.
Keep an eye on household pets and small
children so they don’t get underfoot when
larger groups are together. Be mindful as
well that some older adults who have a holiday
cocktail or two could become dizzy and
fall, especially if they take medications that
interact with alcohol.
If you or someone in your household
does take a fall, don’t let the fact that it’s a
Using a ladder to hang decorations creates
is one of several fall risks facing older adults
during the holiday season. (Adobe Stock photo)
holiday delay you from seeking treatment,
the clinic’s experts say. Complications
such as head injuries, internal bleeding or
fractures are more serious for older adults
and should be treated immediately.
Beware of ‘phantom hackers’
Complex financial scams primarily targeting
seniors are rising all over the U.S.,
according to a recent FBI public service
announcement. Unfortunately, many victims
of so-called “phantom hackers” have
lost some or even all of their retirement
savings as a result – with an average loss
of more than $30,000.
Between January and July of 2023 alone,
about 19,000 complaints related to this
specific type of fraud were filed with the
FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
These scams comprised losses of more
than $542 million, an increase of 40% over
similar crimes reported in all of 2022 – and
there may be many more victims who have
FBI ‘don’ts’ for avoiding
financial fraud
1. Don’t click on unsolicited computer
pop-ups, as well as links or attachments
in text messages and emails.
2. Don’t call any phone number provided
in a pop-up, text or email provided
for your “assistance.”
3. Don’t download computer software
at the request of an unknown
individual.
4. Don’t let any unknown person
have control of your computer, no
matter what company they claim to
represent.
5. Don’t send money via wire transfer
to foreign accounts, cryptocurrency
or gift or prepaid cards at the instruction
of someone you don’t know.