Tripping and falling, the second-most cited cause of death for people aged 65 or older, deserves more attention, as Taiwan this year officially becomes a super-aged society, health experts said.
A super-aged society is defined as when an aging population makes up 20 percent of the whole.
Citing Ministry of Health and Welfare statistics, Health Promotion Administration (HPA) Deputy Director-General Wei Hsi-lun (魏璽倫) said on Tuesday that one out of six elderly people have slipped and fallen, while one out of 12 have sought medical treatment for such issues.
Photo: Lin Liang-che, Taipei Times
Taiwan Restorative Care Promotion Association director and occupational therapist Cheng Meng-hsiu (鍾孟修) offered four suggestions to prevent falls.
There are internal and external factors causing elderly people to be more prone to falling, Chung said.
Internal reasons include body functions regressing, chronic diseases, changes to cognitive functions or the patient’s nervous systems, the patient being affected by medication, or the mental state of fear of falling, he said.
Chung added that external factors include the environment, inadequate support equipment, wearing unsuitable shoes and weather.
Actions to help prevent falling should focus on improving vision, hearing, mobility and nutrition, Chung said.
Using visual aids, such as glasses with proper correction, using magnification lenses to help people better identify possible obstacles and improved lighting in the house would help improve vision, he said.
Annual check-ups should be the norm, and if necessary, glasses should be changed to have proper visual corrections, Chung said.
People who are hard of hearing should use hearing aids, as it makes them more alert and delays regression of cognitive functions, he said, adding that environmental sounds within the home should be reduced and safety reminders installed.
Elderly people are encouraged to exercise regularly to maintain muscle mass and their sense of balance, as such acts help them maintain proper pacing and reduce the risk of falling, he said.
Chung suggested placing anti-slip mats and handlebars where elderly people frequent, adding that homes should remove clutter to ensure a safer walking environment.
Nutritionally, elderly people should mind their hydration levels and have a protein-rich diet, while ensuring they keep up on calcium and vitamin D supplements, he said.
A balanced diet and adequate exposure to sunlight would ensure that people have sufficient calcium, protein and vitamin D sources, Chung added.
The Taipei City Government yesterday confirmed that it has negotiated a royalties of NT$12.2 billion (US$380 million) with artificial intelligence (AI) chip giant Nvidia Corp, with the earliest possible signing date set for Wednesday next week. The city has been preparing for Nvidia to build its Taiwan headquarters in Beitou-Shilin Technology Park since last year, and the project has now entered its final stage before the contract is signed. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city government has completed the royalty price negotiations and would now push through the remaining procedures to sign the contract before
Taipei Zoo welcomes the Lunar New Year this year through its efforts to protect an endangered species of horse native to central Asia that was once fully extinct outside of captivity. The festival ushering in the Year of the Horse would draw attention to the zoo’s four specimens of Przewalski’s horse, named for a Russian geographer who first encountered them in the late 19th century across the steppes of western Mongolia. “Visitors will look at the horses and think that since this is the Year of the Horse: ‘I want to get to know horses,’” said zookeeper Chen Yun-chieh, who has been
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said the name of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania was agreed by both sides, after Lithuania’s prime minister described a 2021 decision to let Taiwan set up a de facto embassy in Vilnius as a “mistake.” Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene, who entered office in September last year, told the Baltic News Service on Tuesday that Lithuania had begun taking “small first steps” aimed at restoring ties with Beijing. The ministry in a statement said that Taiwan and Lithuania are important partners that share the values of freedom and democracy. Since the establishment of the
Taiwan must first strengthen its own national defense to deter a potential invasion by China as cross-strait tensions continue to rise, multiple European lawmakers said on Friday. In a media interview in Taipei marking the conclusion of an eight-member European parliamentary delegation’s six-day visit to Taiwan, the lawmakers urged Taipei to remain vigilant and increase defense spending. “All those who claim they want to protect you actually want to conquer you,” Ukrainian lawmaker Serhii Soboliev said when asked what lessons Taiwan could draw from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Soboliev described the Kremlin as a “new fascist Nazi regime” that justified
RSS