It's important to understand that falls are not a normal part of aging. In order to stop falls from happening, it will help you to understand who is at greatest risk and why.
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While anyone can fall, there are certain conditions or situations putting older individuals at higher risk. For example:
- Poor Eyesight.
This can keep you from seeing hazards and objects in your path, and lead to trips or slips. - Walking and Balance Problems.
Disorders such as stroke, arthritis, diabetes, and neurological disease may affect your muscle strength and reaction time. As a result, your balance may not be quite the same as it was. - Use of Medications.
Taking too much medication or the wrong combination of drugs can sometimes affect your judgment, coordination and balance. - Depression or Stress.
This often causes people to pay less attention and be less alert to surrounding dangers in the environment. - Lack of exercise.
Inactivity results in weakened muscles, and lack of flexibility. This can change your balance and the way you walk and increase the chances of falling.
Preventing Falls
The good news is that many falls are preventable. By taking some simple steps you can greatly reduce your chances of falling.
Visit Your Doctor
- Get regular physical exams even if you're feeling fine.
- Ask the doctor to review your medications for any side effects that can affect balance. Make sure the doctor knows about all the medications you are taking (both prescription and over-the-counter drugs) so that harmful combinations of drugs can be prevented.
- Tell the doctor about any falls or balance problems you may have experienced. The doctor may want to check you out for any medical conditions.
Stay Active
- A regular program of physical activity is one of the best ways to decrease your chances of falling and improve your sense of well being and confidence.
- Try to include such activities as walking, dancing, gardening, and stretching exercises to improve flexibility and balance.
Make Your Home Safer
- At least half of all falls happen at home and generally take place when doing ordinary things like walking on stairs, getting up from bed or going to the bathroom. The best way to deal with any threats to safety in the home is through prevention. It's a good idea to check your home for hazards that frequently cause slips, trips, or falls and eliminate as many potentially trouble spots as possible. By making your home safe now, you can avoid a fall later.
Posted May 2010
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