Poor Vision Could Raise Risk of Falls Among Older Adults

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found older adults with impaired vision may be at greater risk of falling, reports Physical Therapy Products . The researchers determined falls, fear of falling, and limiting activity were considerably more frequent among visually impaired older adults. About half of survey participants who said they had difficulty seeing were afraid of falling. Most limited their activity as a result. More than 25 percent of older adults with vision problems had recurrent falls in the year before they were polled. Strategies for preventing falls for older adults with impaired vision could limit the harmful consequences of falls. The researchers also noted helping older adults prevent falls could slow declines in well-being, quality of life, and independence associated with a fear of falling. "We need more information about falls and the fear of falling in older adults with vision problems," concluded the University of Michigan's Joshua R. Ehrlich. "This will help us design public health and clinical interventions to address some of the key consequences of vision loss for older adults."