Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths, unintentional injuries and hospital admissions for trauma among older adults. They can have a serious impact on older adults’ quality of life and independence. In recognition of Falls Prevention Awareness Week, Brashear Family Medical reminds everyone about simple steps they can take to reduce the risk of falling.
Fall Prevention Awareness Week Tips
Stay Physically Active
Staying physically active is the first Fall Prevention Awareness Week tip. Regular exercise increases muscle strength. In addition, staying physically active improves flexibility and may slow bone loss.
Brashear Family Medical recommends finding a good balance and exercise program to help stay physically active. You can find a program by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging for referrals. Also, aging resources in your area can be found at the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. Choose a program you like and take a friend, caregiver or family member.
Review Your Medications
Medication side effects and drug interactions can increase your risk of falling. Remember to only take medications as prescribed. Additionally, share your history or recent falls, and ask one of our doctors for an assessment of your falling risk.
Our doctors here at Brashear Family Medical can go over your medications list with you. In addition, we can explain the potential side effects of any medicines you take. Make sure to also report side effects you experience to one of our doctors.
Get Adequate Sleep
Not getting adequate sleep can also increase your risk of falling, as people are more likely to fall if they are sleepy.
For more information on how to get adequate sleep, read our article “Tips for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep”.
Improve the Safety of Your Home
Eliminating the safety risks and fall hazards in your home can reduce your risk of falling. Therefore, using a home safety checklist can help you to identify and correct potential hazards.
Remove tripping hazards such as:
- loose area rugs
- clutter in main walk-through areas
- wet floors in the kitchen and bathroom
In addition to the above tips, increasing lighting in stairways and hallways can reduce the risk of falling. Install grab bars in the bathroom and railings on stairs as well to improve the safety of your home.
Have Your Vision and Hearing Tested
Even small changes in vision or hearing can contribute to a fall, as your eyes and ears are key to keeping your balance and avoiding fall hazards. Thus, it is important to make sure your glasses and hearing aids are properly adjusted and take your time getting used to new prescriptions.
Our doctors hear at Brashear Family Medical can test your vision and hearing to ensure your risk of falling is reduced. Contact us today to schedule your appointment to discuss hearing and vision problems.
These are just a few Fall Prevention Awareness Week tips to help reduce your risk of falling. Don’t hesitate to contact us here at Brashear Family Medical with the link below for more information or to schedule an appointment with our doctors today!