Help Senior Loved Ones Avoid Head Injury

March is Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been called "the signature injury" of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, because many veterans are currently undergoing rehabilitation treatment for head injury. Other cases of TBI result from automobile accidents and sports injuries.

But did you know that falling is the leading cause of TBI? And that seniors make up a large percentage of those sustaining a fall-related head injury?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers tips on helping senior loved ones reduce the risk!

If you are one of the millions of people in this country who provides care for an older adult—a parent, grandparent, other family member or close friend—you should learn about traumatic brain injury. A TBI is caused by a bump or blow to the head that affects how the brain normally works. TBI is a special health concern for older adults. People ages 75 and older have the highest rates of TBI-related hospitalizations and death. They also recover more slowly and die more often from these injuries than do younger people. Falls are the leading cause of TBI.

Q: What are the signs and symptoms of TBI?

Symptoms of mild TBI include:

• Low-grade headache that won't go away
• Having more trouble than usual remembering things, paying attention or concentrating, organizing daily tasks, or making decisions and solving problems
• Slowness in thinking, speaking, acting, or reading
• Feeling tired all of the time, lack of energy or motivation
• Loss of balance, feeling light-headed or dizzy
• Increased sensitivity to sounds, lights, distractions
• Blurred vision or eyes that tire easily
• Loss of sense of taste or smell
• Ringing in the ears
• Mood changes like feeling sad, anxious, or listless, or becoming easily irritated or angry for little or no reason

A person with moderate or severe TBI may show the symptoms listed above, and may also have:

• A headache that gets worse or does not go away
• Repeated vomiting or nausea
• Convulsions or seizures
• Inability to wake up from sleep
• Dilation of one or both pupils
• Slurred speech
• Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
• Loss of coordination
• Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation

Q: What should you do if you think an older loved one has a TBI?

Take your loved one to the doctor. Tell the doctor about any prescription drugs, including over-the-counter medicines, blood thinners, or aspirin that the older adult takes. If your loved one takes blood thinners (e.g., Coumadin), he or she should be seen immediately by a health care provider after a bump or blow to the head, even if none of the symptoms listed above are present.

Q: Can TBI be prevented?

Yes. Here are some things you can do to help prevent falls, the most common cause of TBI among older adults:

Encourage exercise. Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce older adults' chances of falling. Exercises that improve balance and coordination, like Tai Chi, are most helpful. The doctor can make a recommendation about the best and safest exercise program.

Make the home or surroundings safer. Remove things from stairs and floors that might cause tripping; add brighter lighting; remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep rugs from slipping; install handrails and lights on all staircases. Place items used often within easy reach, so that a step stool is not needed. (For more home safety suggestions, see the February 2010 issue of Insight for Caregivers.)

Choose safe footwear. Be sure your loved one's shoes provide good support and have thin, non-slip soles. He or she should avoid wearing slippers and going shoeless.
 
Ask the health care provider to review all medicines. The doctor or pharmacist can look at all the prescription medicines your loved one takes, as well as non-prescription drugs like cold medicines and various supplements. As people age, the way some medicines work in the body can change. This could cause a person to feel drowsy or lightheaded, which could lead to a fall.

Take your loved one for a vision check. Poor vision increases the chance of falling. Regular eye doctor appointments keep your loved one's eyeglasses prescription up-to-date, and can catch and treat conditions that limit vision, like glaucoma or cataracts.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information, visit the CDC Help Seniors Live Better, Longer: Prevent Brain Injury web resources page, or call toll-free at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).