| Each year thousands of older people are disabled,
sometimes permanently, by falls that result in broken
bones. In fact, each year 1/3 of people over age 65 fall
at least once, and half of those falls lead to injuries.
This number increases to 50% by age 80! A simple fall can
result in major changes in someone's life. 80% of
injuries in the aged are the result of falls. There are
some things you can do to decrease your risk for falling.
Here are some ideas to help
prevent falls and fractures.
- Have your vision and hearing tested often and
wear appropriate corrective devices.
- Find out about the side effects of the
prescription drugs you are taking. Do they effect
your balance and coordination? Ask your doctor to
suggest ways to decrease your risk for falling. A
serious problem with diuretics may be fluid
depletion, which can lead to dizziness,
lightheadedness and fainting.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
- Get up slowly from lying down and sitting. Low
blood pressure may cause dizziness with spacial
body changes.
- Be aware dizziness can be caused by extreme
temperatures of being too hot or too cold.
- If you feel unsteady when walking use a cane or
walker to help keep your balance especially over
uneven surfaces.. Don't hold onto furniture or
walls and be careful on wet and icy surfaces.
- Wear low-heeled shoes with rubber soles. Wearing
only socks or slippers can cause you to slip on
stairs or waxed floors and they don't support
your foot fully.
- Exercise regularly to keep your muscles toned and
your joints, ligaments and tendons flexible.
- Keep one hand on the handrail when going up or
down stairs at all times.
- Avoid taking chances and putting yourself in high
risk positions. Don't stand on chairs to reach
something. Don't walk across freshly washed
floors. Use a reach stick to grab items off the
floor instead of bending down at the waist.
Make your home safe by using
this checklist.
Stairways, hallways, and pathways
should have:
- adequate lighting and be free of clutter
- firmly attached carpet and rough texture or
abrasive strips to secure footing
- securely fastened handrails running the whole
length and along both sides of stairs
- light switches at the top and bottom of stairs
Bathroom should have:
- nightlights
- nonskid mats or abrasive strips in the bathtub or
shower
- carpet or nonskid rugs on floor
- grab bars placed both in and out or bathtubs,
showers and near toilets
Bedrooms should have:
- nightlights or light switches within reach of
bed(s)
- area rugs only if firmly attached to the floor
- telephone that is easy to reach from the bed
- all electrical and telephone cords placed out of
the walkway or securely fastened to the floor
Living areas should have:
- all electrical and telephone cords placed out of
the walkway or securely fastened to the floor
- area rugs only if firmly secured to the floor
- furniture (especially low coffee tables) and
other objects out of the main walking areas
- couches and chairs at proper height to get into
and out of easily
If you are alone frequently and have problems with
balance and/or dizziness you might want to look into a
medical monitoring system. This service works through
your telephone line and include an emergenecy button you
wear at all times. Should you fall or need help in any
way, a push of the button is all that is needed to
activate the EMS (emergency medical system). There is a
monthly fee for such a monitoring service but is a small
price to pay compared to the alternative. Ask your doctor
or local social worker where to get such a device.
by Carol Glasscock, MS,PT
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