Doctors at National Taiwan University Hospital yesterday called for better care and safeguards against injuries from falls among the elderly as the nation ages.
Li Jia-ming (黎家銘), a doctor at the hospital’s Beihu branch, said that more than 70 percent of the nation’s elderly suffer injuries from falls, and that 80 percent of injury-related hospital stays for those aged 65 and above were the result of falls.
“Taiwan is an aging society, as is the rest of the world. The percentage of elderly people exceeds that of the youth by 7 percent, making geriatric care more important than ever,” Beihu branch president Yang Pei-ming (楊培銘) told a press conference yesterday.
The hospital conducted a survey from last October to May of 676 people aged 65 and above in Taipei City’s Wanhua District (萬華). Of the respondents, 159 or 23.5 percent had experienced a fall in the past year with some suffering multiple falls, bringing the total number of falls to 197.
Fractures
Surprisingly, most falls occurred on level ground, Li said.
“One to 2 percent of the elderly who experienced a fall fractured their hipbone,” he said.
As a result of the fall, more than half were unable to “sufficiently take care of themselves, making correct care and supervision vital,” he said
Some doctors dismiss falls as an “inevitable part of aging,” said Han Te-sheng (韓德生), another doctor, resulting in improper or no treatment at all.
He said that there were certain steps that could be taken to decrease the risk of falls.
Creating a safe environment, such as clearing the floor of electrical cords and securing carpets, can help prevent falls, he said.
Han also suggested regular exercise to help the elderly strengthen their sense of stability and balance.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS