For many of my senior friends the old saying rings true, Their Home is Their Castle. The problem is how comfortable they become in that castle. From clutter to wires, to just being “too comfortable,” a senior's home is actually the #1 place they could fall and get hurt.
According to a recent New York Times article, falls remain the number one cause of injuries to seniors, one in three elderly individuals will experience a fall each year. In fact, every fifteen seconds an older adult visits an emergency room for a fall-related injury, and these injuries ultimately result in about 32,000 deaths a year!
Here are some fall prevention tips for people of all ages:
- Wear proper footwear with heel support and slip-resistant soles.
- Clear floors, Secure Rugs.
- Keep adequate and appropriate lighting inside and outside the home.
- Stop walking with hands full and ask for help when carrying objects up and downstairs.
- Understand your medications and know their possible side effects. Some medications can cause dizziness that can increase the risk for falls.
Learn more about this important topic on this week's Danbury Senior Chat on Facebook Live. Our speaker, Anne Bee is a Physical Therapist at Western Reserve Hospital who is all too familiar with fall prevention! Click on Danbury's Facebook page, Tuesday 5/4 at 3 pm.
