For an older person, a fall can be a life-changing event. As we age, physical changes, health conditions, and medications can all increase the likelihood of falling, and falls are the leading cause of injury and death for older adults. Falls can be serious, resulting in a broken hip or brain bleed, and older people are five times more likely to be hospitalized with a fall than younger people. Fear of falling doesn’t need to limit your life, though. Here, we offer some safety tips to help prevent slips and falls.
Fall Prevention Measures
- Talk to Your Doctor. Make an appointment to discuss your fall risk with your healthcare provider. Review your medications to determine possible side effects and interactions, and discuss instances when you fell or almost fell. Have your eyes checked, and talk to the doctor about anything that could impede your mobility, like dizziness, joint pain, shortness of breath, or numbness in your feet and legs.
- Get rid of hazards in your home. Keep your walkways clear, removing things like boxes, newspapers, and electrical cords. Place your furniture in such a way that it is not likely to cause you to trip, secure loose rugs with slip-resistant backing or double-sided tape, and repair any loose floorboards or carpeting as quickly as possible. Store the things you use often within easy reach, and immediately clean any spills, to prevent slipping. In the bathroom, use non-slip mats in the bathtub or shower, and consider a bath seat, so that you can sit while showering.
- Make use of assistive devices. If your doctor recommends a cane or walker, find one that fits your lifestyle. In your home, install grab bars and handrails in high-risk areas. Consider a raised toilet seat with handles, and place non-slip treads on bare wooden stairs
- Keep your home well-lit. Proper lighting can make it easier to avoid tripping on things. Make sure to have extra lights where you need them, like nightlights in hallways, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Store flashlights where they are easy to find, and place a lamp beside your bed so that you can reach it easily. For light switches that are not near room entrances, consider replacing traditional switches with illuminated or glow-in-the-dark switches. Keep stairways well-lit, and always turn on the light before going up or down stairs.
- Wear the right shoes. Avoid high heels, floppy slippers or sandals, shoes that don’t fit well, and shoes with slick soles, and don’t walk around in your stocking feet. Instead, wear sturdy, flat, non-skid shoes that fit well. As a bonus, the right shoes can reduce joint pain.
- Stay active. Don’t let the fear of falling prevent you from getting regular exercise. Activities like walking, swimming, yoga, or tai chi can help you by improving strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility. This leads to healthier aging, and it also reduces your risk of falls. If you are unsure about the type of exercises you should do, talk to your doctor or ask for a referral to a physical therapist.