Did you know? Falls are the No. 1 cause of injury among seniors, and they can often result in hip fractures, cuts and even serious head and brain injuries. To add insult to injury, out of the one in four seniors that fall, only half tell their doctor about it.
Falls and fall injuries are quite preventable, and our AFC Urgent Care Chapman Highway team highlights some useful prevention tactics below.
- Here’s what to do: Clean up your indoor space. Clutter is one of the leading causes of falls, so clean it up to lower your risk! Keeping a tidy home by removing boxes and loose wires is a good place to start.
- What to do next: Make sure your indoor space is well-lit. To create a space that’s more suitable for the elderly and for people of all ages, install brighter light bulbs where needed, particularly in stairways and narrow hallways. If you don’t like bright overhead lights, add more lamps.
- What to do after: Stay active. Getting the CDC-recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week will keep your body strong and improve balance, which will greatly reduce your risk of falling.
- Another thing to keep in mind: Wear footwear that has some grip. Slippery socks and slippers can cause falls, so consider wearing shoes or socks with grips on the bottom to reduce your fall risk.
- Another tip: Install grab bars and handrails. These safety devices are especially useful for seniors. They can help with safely going up and down stairs, getting on and off the toilet and stepping in and out of the bathtub.
- If you do fall: Call your doctor or a loved one. Letting someone know that you’ve fallen isn’t being dramatic. Statistics show that falling once doubles your chances of falling again, and telling someone about your first fall can prevent a second fall from happening.
- Action steps to take: Talk to your doctor about your fall risk before a fall happens.
- Doctor recommendations: If you take any prescription or OTC medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medications to see if any might make you dizzy or sleepy. Dizziness and sleepiness can increase your fall risk.
We’re here for you now and always! Don’t hesitate to stop by our AFC center today if you need any non-emergency medical care.
