Traumatic Brain Injury Poses Huge Risk to Senior Safety and Independent Living

Living independently is important for many of today's seniors. With the benefits of living alone though come plenty of risks. Protecting yourself from risks like traumatic brain injury resulting from fall related injuries is one way that you can greatly increase the length of your independence.

Did you know that falls are by far, the leading cause of traumatic brain injury? People over the age of 75 have the greatest probabilities of hospitalization or even death as the result of traumatic brain injury. Prevention of falls and fast access to care are the greatest weapons against permanent damage resulting from traumatic brain injury.

Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

Mile TBI (traumatic brain injury) will often include these types of symptoms: low grade and lingering headache, changes in sleeping patterns, difficulty with concentration and memory, dizziness, blurred vision, increased or unusual sensitivity to light or sound, and a constant ringing in the ears.

Moderate TBI may include any of the symptoms of mild TBI as well as slurred speech, numbness in arms and/or legs, loss of coordination, seizures, pupil dilation in one or both eyes, worsening headache that will not leave, and nausea.

How Should You React if You Suspect TBI?

If you've fallen and had a blow to the head accompanied with the symptoms above it is a good idea to see your doctor right away. You should also see your doctor or emergency medical service provider immediately if you are taking aspirin, Coumadin, or any other blood thinners and hit your head (with or without any of the above symptoms).

When you see your doctor be sure to bring a list of all prescription and over the counter medications you are taking. Medications can have very dangerous interactions with one another in the best of circumstances. In the event of a traumatic brain injury those risks may be more profound.

Why does TBI Pose such a Great Risk to Seniors?

The problem with seniors when it comes to traumatic brain injury is that there are many times when they do not get the necessary treatment or care quickly enough. Many seniors live alone and are injured or disoriented enough that they cannot get to a phone and dial the numbers to get emergency medical attention immediately after the injury occurs. At a time when seconds matter, minutes can do irreparable damage, and hours can be more like days compared to the amount of damage that can ultimately be corrected or recovered from.

It is often the case that traumatic brain injury among the elderly isn't discovered until it is far too late to undo the damage that has been done because aging adults often live alone and frequently live very insulated and isolated lives. The other problem is that elderly or aging adults are at greater risks for these damaging falls whether by environmental hazards for tripping and falling or loss of coordination due to aging, medication side effects, or lack of exercise.

Medical alert systems can be an excellent first line of defense against permanent damage due to TBI that results from falls. You owe it to yourself or your loved ones to make sure that this line of protection is readily available.