Fall Prevention Tips For Seniors

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

one out of every five falls results in a serious injury, such as a bone
fracture or head injury.[1]

Were all susceptible to falls, but older adults in particular need to

take special care. This is because as we age, mobility, strength,
and sensory faculties can change.

Help your parent or grandparent stay safe at home with these fall
prevention tips. Youll be just in time for Fall Prevention
Awareness Week, which coincides with the first week of fall
(September 22-28).

Lessen Risks Around the Home

Theres no better place to start applying fall prevention tips than
around the house. Reports show that more than 75% of
accident-related injuries occur in the home. Take a look around
your parents home, identify fall risks, and make changes to
reduce them.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Clear pathways of electrical cords, furniture, and other

clutter.

Put regularly used items within easy reach, i.e. at waist or

counter level.

Put night lights in bathrooms and on stairs.

Secure floor coverings with non-slip pads.

Install hand rails, grab bars, and tub mats in the bathroom.[2]

For even more ideas to fall-proof your home, read our blog post
for National Safety Month.

Make Self-Care a Priority

Fall safety requires more than just minimizing external risks.
Monitoring ones health and practicing good self-care will help
lessen physical vulnerabilities that can increase the chance of
fall.

Help your parent to do the following:

Make regular appointments to check hearing and vision and

wear comfortable hearing aids and eyeglasses with an
adequate prescription.

Properly take medications (for tips, read our Medication

Management blog post).

Exercise safely and moderatelymobilizing joints increases

overall body function, lessening the risk of falls.[3]

Eat a healthy, balanced diet and drink plenty of water,

especially in the summer when seniors are at risk for heatrelated illness.

Ask for Help

For some older adults, accepting help and their changing needs
can present an emotional challenge. Support your parent in
getting all the help he or she needs by encouraging him or her to
see how it will actually enable greater freedom.
Help can come in many different forms:

Assistive devices, such as a cane or walker[4]

Sturdy, orthopedic shoes

A medical alert device

An in-home caregiver

Sources
[1]

http://dailynurse.com/strategies-reduce-patient-falls/

[2]

http://www.stopfalls.org/grantees_info/files/HomeModificatio
n.PDF
[3]

http://dailynurse.com/strategies-reduce-patient-falls/

[4]

http://www.stopfalls.org/grantees_info/files/AssistiveDevices.p

df

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