A silly little accident, like a slip, can have devastating effects on the life of an independent elderly person.
Simple, day-to-day chores, like hanging the washing, suddenly become a major ordeal as they struggle with fractures that take long to heal.
Going by the mantra that prevention is better than cure, a Falls Prevention Task Force has been set up by the government to raise awareness about the dangers of elderly people falling over and the serious effects it has on their lives.
"After an elderly person falls they can suffer from what is called a fall syndrome. They feel they are no longer independent, fear they would fall again and the world appears to them to be one whole string of obstacles that can trip them," task force head Reggie Aquilina explained.
They could also feel they had become a burden to society and that they were losing control, he added.
His colleague, Antoinette Powell, who also sits on the task force, added: "When it comes to the elderly, a fall can lead to a feeling of helplessness that leads to hopelessness and they can even give up on life".
The role of the task force -launched a few weeks ago by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly and Community Care Mario Galea - is to launch initiatives aimed at preventing elderly people from falling. The idea is to work closely with nurses, doctors in the community, local councils and parishes.
The task force is made up of nurses, geriatric consultants, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Mr Aquilina, a practice development nurse at Mater Dei Hospital's Orthopaedics' Department, said the task force would take a three-pronged approach: hold a seminar to help hospital staff teach patients how to prevent falls; work with local councils and parishes to minimise dangers for the elderly and help raise awareness; and put together an informative booklet on fall prevention to be distributed to the elderly. The booklet is expected to be launched in the coming months and will be available on the website of the Association of Orthopaedic Nurses, of which Mr Aquilina is president.
"Simple things can make all the difference. Sometimes, for example, people don't realise that a poorly-lit staircase or an uneven pavement can pose a hazard to an elderly person," Ms Powell, an occupational therapist in orthopaedics, said.
In fact, the task force aims to teach people how to minimise risk at home and outside and how to look after their health. Reflexes slow down with age as do eyesight and other senses. So it helps to ensure that the house is well lit and there is no clutter, for example. Outside the home, elderly people have less control, so they have to be on the lookout for potential dangers and report them.
"Unfortunately, there is a culture of complacency whereby people complain but do not take their concerns to the authorities. It is important that dangerous ramps or potholes are reported," Ms Powell insisted.
Elderly people can also reduce the risks of falling through regular check-ups, eating healthy and taking care of their overall health. They should also be aware that some medicines, such as tranquilisers, can make them drowsy.
Ms Powell added there needed to be a more holistic approach towards falls. When an elderly person turns up at their personal doctor or at hospital, the doctor only deals with the injury. The reason for the fall is not looked into.
For more information visit www.amon-nurse.com.