Falls happen to everyone, but if you are over age 65, a fall can change your life. Fortunately, falls can be prevented. You owe it to yourself and your family to find out how.
Risks for falling include:
Difficulty walking, getting up, or sitting down,
Losing your balance,
Taking four or more medications on a regular basis,
Drops in blood pressure, dizziness,
Problems with vision, hearing, numbness in feet, memory, confusion,
Foot pain and ill-fitting shoes, and
Hazards at home.
Strategies for Older Adults to prevent falls include:
Have yearly vision and hearing check-ups,
Keep glasses clean and in good repair,
Never walk wearing reading glasses,
Use extra caution on stairs, curbs, and uneven surfaces,
Remove anything that narrows walking paths,
Always have adequate lighting day and night,
Eliminate possible tripping hazards,
Wear supportive shoes,
Use chairs with arms, and
Always get help changing ceiling light bulbs, smoke detector batteries, and doing other chores that require climbing.
Courtesy of the Connecticut Collaboration for Fall Prevention
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