Tips to Prevent Falls
We all know the saying “there’s no place like home”, and while many seniors may prefer to stay in their homes and continue independent (or supported) living from there, the home can also be quite a hazard to older adults. This makes fall prevention important as we get older, since falling is one of the leading causes of injury for older adults.
We’ve put together some tips to help seniors prevent falls so they can enjoy the comfort and warmth of their homes and familiar surroundings.
Common Reasons Seniors Fall
- Hips and legs are weak, making it harder to walk.
- Decreased vision, making it difficult to see things clearly.
- Drug interactions causing dizziness or loss of balance.
- Low blood pressure that can lead to tight-headedness.
- Poor posture which causes the spinal cord to be in poor shape.
Tips to Prevent Falls
- Daily Exercise
Lack of exercise will lead to weaker legs and muscles and it may increase the chance of falling. There are many types of exercises that are suitable for seniors such as walking, swimming, cycling, stretching, water aerobics, yoga, gardening, tai chi, and golf. These will improve muscle mass and decreases the chance of falling.
- Be Aware of your Medications
Often times medication may lead to drowsiness, making it imperative to be aware of your medication and possible interactions. Having a pharmacist or doctor review all of your medications will help avoid any complications and severe side effects.
- Wear Sensible Shoes
Make sure that your footwear is appropriate for the activity you will be taking part in. We may not be used to wearing shoes in the house but firm slippers with a non-slip sole can do wonders in helping you keep your balance on tiled and hardwood floors.
- Keep Your Vision Clear
Poor vision will increase the chance of falling, and you can hardly get around safely in your house. Seniors should their eyes checked every year and in the case of poor vision, they should wear glasses at all times in the house.
- Keep Essential Things Near You
Yes, this could help quite a bit! It can decrease the chance of falling so they are in reaching distance without having to walk around the house to get to them.
- Remove Hazardous Things Around Your House
Take a look at your whole house. There might be some things unattended to that may need to be removed. Whether you have loose wires or too much clutter, it’s a good idea to get these looked after to increase space and avoid the potential to trip over things.
Try some of these out when putting together a fall prevention plan for yourself or your loved one and let us know if you have anything else to add!
