20 February 2023 – 08:18
Epidemiologist Emiel Hoogendijk warns of a higher risk of falling in elderly people with malnutrition. In an article in De Telegraaf he explains the connection between malnutrition, loneliness and falling. An important signal, because a fall is usually the result of several problems.
Malnutrition is a risk factor for falls because it leads to loss of muscle mass and weakening of bones. As a result, older people walk worse and fall more quickly. The elderly are also more afraid of falling and are therefore more inclined to stay at home. This in turn leads to loneliness and so the elderly end up in a vicious circle in which the quality of life decreases.
To prevent this vicious circle, it is very important to detect elderly people with an increased risk of falling in good time and to refer them to a fall-preventive exercise intervention. In the case of an increased fall risk, it is important to screen the elderly for underlying fall risk factors such as malnutrition. When this proves to be a problem, malnutrition can be addressed as part of a fall prevention approach.
Thuis Onbezorgd Mobiel (TOM) is a good example of a (proven effective) multidisciplinary fall prevention approach. TOM is intended for elderly people aged 65 and older living at home with an increased risk of falling. TOM focuses on three important themes; stimulating exercise, improving nutritional intake and increasing social contacts.
By detecting elderly people with an increased risk of falling in time, offering a fall-preventive exercise intervention and, if necessary, taking additional measures such as dietary advice, the risk of a fall is reduced. In this way we contribute to the ability of our elderly to continue to live independently at home for longer.
Elvera Overdevest, adviser on fall prevention for the elderly, VeiligNL.
Editorial Medicalfacts/ Janine Budding
I studied physiotherapy and Health Care business administration. I am also a registered independent client support worker and informal care broker. I have a lot of experience in various positions in healthcare, the social domain and the medical, pharmaceutical industry, nationally and internationally. And have broad medical knowledge of most healthcare specialties. And of the care laws from which the care is regulated and financed. Every year I attend most of the leading medical conferences in Europe and America to keep my knowledge up-to-date and to keep up with the latest developments and innovations. Currently I am doing a Masters in Applied Psychology.
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