Best Hip Protectors for the Elderly

Hip protectors should be used by most seniors, as bone deterioration and muscle loss are a common problem that comes with age. Women are the ones who suffer the most, as they lose bone density faster than men due to the drop in estrogen levels during menopause. However, some specific medical conditions increase the chance of falling and bone fractures.

Probably the most well-known disease regarding bone fragility is osteoporosis. But other chronic medical conditions, such as endocrine and intestinal disorders, also lead to weaker bones. Additionally, there are some illnesses that don’t necessarily contribute to bone deterioration but do lead to a higher risk of falling like dementia, Parkinson’s, and low blood sugar.

Finally, you also need to consider the senior’s overall lifestyle. While certain medications can weaken bones, others can make the patient dizzy and more prone to falling. An unbalanced diet with low calcium and vitamin D intake and lack of physical activity are also important factors that lead to bone fragility.

If your loved one suffers from any of these conditions, it’s essential to get them a hip protector. Even if a senior seems healthy, we still recommend asking their doctor whether hip protective gear is necessary.

There are two types of hip protectors and each one works in its own way. While hip protective gear with soft pads absorbs the blow, hip protectors with hard shields disperse the energy from the hip towards the soft tissues of the thigh. You can also find hip protective gear with a mix of hard and soft shields, which are designed for both shunting and shock absorption.

Whether hip protection gear works or not has long been debated and there still isn’t a consensus. Clinic trials have shown that there’s some evidence that hip protection gear does reduce the chance of hip fractures, but it also slightly increases the chance of breaking the pelvic bone. Still, the main reason for such inconclusive studies is the user’s lack of compliance, with only 30% of the patients actually wearing their hip protective gear correctly.

Ideally, hip protectors should be used 24/7. After all, fall hazards don’t sleep, and seniors need to walk a dangerous path to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, wearing hip protectors isn’t the easiest thing to do when you’re an older adult. Those with memory loss might forget to wear them, and seniors with incontinence issues might find it hard to take them on and off. Additionally, hip protectors create a bulky appearance around the hips, which most seniors don’t really like. If you’re getting a hip protector for your loved one, then it’s essential to explain to them how lifesaving this protective gear can be and how it needs to be used at all times.

Other ways to prevent falls and fractures

There’s no way around the fact that hip protective gear is tremendously helpful to prevent hip fractures when used correctly. Despite this, it protects just one part of the body, and only if the senior falls sideways. For example, if the senior falls on their front (or back) and hits their head, hip protectors won’t help. Thankfully, there are other pieces of equipment you can get to ensure your loved one’s safety, like head protectors that help prevent life-threatening brain injuries.

Seniors can also improve their safety by doing balance exercises and fall-proofing their home, especially in the rooms where most falls happen, such as the bedroom and the bathroom. Moreover, you can get tools that help the elderly do daily activities independently without the fear of falling, such as sock aids, bedside commodes, and walking canes.

Finally, medical alert systems that come with fall detection are great when a fall does happen. This system automatically connects the senior to a 24/7 specialized monitoring team, who will call for assistance even when the user can’t respond. This way, help will arrive within minutes, which is essential for a fast recovery in case of a bone fracture.