Senior Fall Prevention

Falls have become increasingly on the upswing for seniors over the age of 65 according to the latest statistics from the CDC.  Many of these falls can be prevented just by changing a few things around the home and adjusting the lifestyle of our seniors.

Preventing falls and staying safe at home should be a top priority for seniors today who wish to remain at home during the golden years and forgo the assisted living route.  Below are a few tips to reduce your chance of falling and staying safe at home.

1. Start exercising today.

Most experts will tell you that beginning an exercise program will improve your balance and coordination.  From making your

bones stronger to elevating your mood, exercising has a host of beneficial and positive results.  Try to find a seniors class offering

Tai Chi or other low impact exercise routine.  One good place to start is your local YMCA.  Local YMCA  listings.

2. Safety-Proof your home.

Go through your home and remove all the things which may be potential tripping hazards (extension cords, mats, books,

magazines, clutter) from places where you walk.  Take special care to remove anything around and on the stairs.

If you have rugs, make sure they have non slip pads underneath and that the edges are taped down(double sided tape) securely to prevent them from rising up.

Keep items in the kitchen accessible so that you do not need a stool to reach them.

Place support or grab bars next to the tub, shower and toilet.

Use non-slip mats in the bathtub.

Make sure the lighting in the home is sufficient in all rooms.

Make sure you wear shoes that give good support and have non-slip soles.  Avoid wearing socks around the house.  Especially if you will be going up and down stairs.

3. Have your vision checked yearly by an eye doctor.

Poor vision increases the chances you may have a fall

4. Have a medical alert system in the home and use it!

Medical alert systems will not prevent a serious fall from occuring but in the event you do have an accident in or around your home, you need to be able to call for help.  Don’t count on being able to call or use a telephone.  Many times the phone will either be out of reach or you just can’t physically dial the numbers.  Your overall safety may depend on just how quickly help arrives at your doorstep.  Don’t take any chances here.

By following these safety precautions and having a medical alert system at home you will increase the likelyhood of remaining safe and independent.

More than 1/3 of adults age 65 and older fall each year according to the CDC and did you know that they are also the most common hospital admission?  Nearly 2 million people age 65 and older were treated at hospitals from falls.  For some reason, the rate of fall related deaths among older adults rose significantly over the past decade and we don’t really know why.

I would venture to say that falls among seniors is a very serious and ongoing problem that needs more attention from us as a society.

One way to shorten the response time for medical personnel to reach the home of senior fall victims is of course to have a working medical alert system or Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) at home.  Studies have shown that if help arrives quicker, seniors spend less time in the hospital and more time in their homes to recuperate and heal.

Falling at home is a really serious problem and once it happens some seniors develop a fear of falling which makes them more likely to fall in the future.

How can Seniors prevent falls?  Checkout our senior safety tips.  You can also get a brochure (http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/fallsmaterial.html) from the CDC.

Remember, having a medical alert system gives you access to 24 hour help in the event of any kind of emergency not just a fall.  These alert systems can also notify police in the event of a break in or call a family member.

There has been a great deal of awareness in recent years about how crucial it is for seniors and aging adults to safeguard against falls. CDC reports state that more than one third of people in the US over the age of 65 fall each year. For people in this age bracket, falls are the leading cause of deaths resulting from injuries and of nonfatal hospital visits resulting from injuries. Proper education and prevention can help reign in these numbers and prevent countless needless injuries and deaths each year.

Clean it Up

What can you do to prevent falls in the home of your loved ones? Start by learning the basics. Household clutter is one of the most common culprits when it comes to trips and falls. As people age they are less able to tackle many of the common cleaning problems they were once able to regularly tend to. Some options you might wish to consider include arranging with friends and family to come in and clean once a week or hire a cleaning service to come in once a week to handle deep cleaning and remove clutter and debris from the home.

Move it Out

If your parents are like many elderly people they have a home filled with memories. It’s great to hold on to important memories but it’s also a good time to start scaling back and removing items, particularly large of bulky furniture items, that might free up floor space in order to create more clear paths for walking. Eliminate things that aren’t necessary (or too sentimental to remove) from the home. The fewer things in the home, the fewer obstacles to maneuver around.

Light the Way

It may be time to change light fixtures, clean up old light coverings, invest in night lights, and switch to brighter bulbs. Light is important as people age and have more vision problems. More importantly, better lighting allows people to see obstacles that might be less easily recognized otherwise. It might not seem like that big of a difference but when combined with other changes, seeing things in a new light might be the difference in a life changing fall and preventing that fall.

Get Rid of the Soap

Old fashioned bars of soap can be deadly in the shower. Slips in the shower often go undiscovered for long periods of time and can be easily prevented. One way of doing this is by getting rid of soap bars. Instead of those old slippery bars of soap it is easy to install a dispenser for liquid soap to use in the shower. These dispensers can also be used for shampoo and conditioner in order to free up limited space in the shower and to reduce the amount of items that can fall and cause massive slippery obstacles to overcome during the course of a shower.

Simple little changes can net huge results when it comes to protecting the people you love. These changes do not necessarily require a huge investment of money but can greatly improve the quality and length of life for your loved ones.

Read more Senior Safety articles.

The CDC has found that 30% of seniors age 65+ who fall and break their hip will die within a year.  This video shows  an elderly lady who has fallen many times within her own home and what steps she has taken to prevent future falls.  Great information for all seniors out there.  I have also put together a safety checklist you may download HERE.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Please help MedFirst Alert create public awareness about senior fall prevention. You’ll find a wealth of information over at the CDC’s website.