Best Tips to Prevent Falls

When I was in first grade, my teacher, Mrs. Severns, tripped over an item someone had left in the aisle. I will never forget what she told us, "When you fall (at age 6), you don't have as far to go, so injuries will not be as bad. However, when an adult falls, we fall farther and harder."

For some reason, I never forgot this, and as a senior (72) who has had too many falls lately, I understand it more and take it much more seriously.

One in four seniors (ages 65 and older) will fall each year. Some falls are relatively benign; however, the older you are, the less likely you are to recover completely.

 The reasons are multi-factorial:

1.     Poor balance and muscle weakness

2.     Poor coordination

3.     Heart issues

4.     Poor eyesight

5.     Changes in gait

6.     Wrong footwear

7.     Slippery floors

8.     And not paying attention.

My falls are mainly due to not paying attention to my surroundings, walking too fast, and poor balance. I was fortunate; I broke the fall with my arms (common self-protection reflex). However, as a result of landing on my right hand, I broke the right radial head, aka right elbow,sprained both hands, and skinned my knees. I had immediate medical care out of state, with follow-up in NJ. I just heard about a colleague, a 70-year-old who was jogging, who fell and broke his hip. It happens, and falls become a comorbidity that can lead to decreased quality of life and possibly reduced life expectancy.

 So what do we do?

1-Don't talk on the phone while walking. (I wasn't)

2-Practice balance exercises, daily

3-Look around at your surroundings. I was on a very old, uneven sidewalk. I should have looked down and walked more slowly.

4-If icy, please don't go out unless you have to; it's not worth the risk.

5-Look around your home, remove area rugs; be careful that hallways are clear of clutter.

6-Don't carry many things in your arms when going up and down steps, as this can make you off balance and increase your risk of falling

7-If there is a railing, USE IT! I know people are leery, as germs may be lurking, but use hand sanitizer, and you will be fine. Hand railings have saved me many times.

 There are many other ways we can avoid falls, and they can affect and change our lives indefinitely. The older we get, the greater the risk of falls and injuries. We need to be more cognizant and take fall potential very seriously.

#fallingrisks #preventfalls