By Andrew McIsaac, PT, DPT
Have you had a fall, or have you had an unexplained loss of balance causing a stumble or trip, in the last six months? Are you anxious about falling and, as a result, have you stopped doing the things you enjoy?
You’re not alone.
In fact, each year, millions of people aged 65 and older, fall. September is Fall Prevention Awareness Month but, falls can happen any month, day and time of the year, which is why we all have a role to play in preventing falls – all year round.
The first step is determining your risk for a fall.
Most falls can be attributed to low-light conditions and take place in the home’s bedroom, bathroom, stairs, and kitchen. But, of course, falls can happen anywhere. The greatest risk factor for a fall is a previous falls history. But there are others. To determine your risk, ask yourself:
- Do I leave loose objects (i.e., shoes, books, paper, etc.) on the stairs that could impede my route? Are any steps/stairs broken or uneven?
- Do I have adequate light over the stairway? Do I have only one light switch at the top or bottom of the stairs?
- Is there a handrail on only one side of the stairs? Is the handrail loose or broken? Is the carpet on the stairs loose or torn?
- Is the light near the bed difficult to reach? Is the path from the bed to the bathroom dark?
- Is my tub and/or bathroom floor slippery? Do I have upper extremity support getting into/out of the bathtub and/or up from the toilet?
- Do I need to access items on high shelves in the kitchen? Do I have a proper footstool that is steady and supportive?
Falls, especially in older adults, can be serious. Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of non-fatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.
And many can be prevented.
To learn more about how to reduce your risk of falls at home without having to change your living conditions, check out Fall Prevention – Protect Yourself at Home. Gaylord Specialty Healthcare hosts a series of interactive virtual sessions on various topics of interest. Check out my Zoom presentation about Fall Prevention here and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to stay connected!