It is important to maintain your independence as much as possible when you get older so that you can make the most of your senior years. But that independence is often reliant on your ability to stay safe and secure in day-to-day activities. Stay strong and independent for years to come with these vital fall prevention tips.
Commit to Regular Exercise
Doing moderate, regular exercise is important for improving and maintaining strength, balance, and flexibility in your day-to-day activities. Low-impact classes and exercises like yoga, water workouts, Tai Chi, and even walking can all aid in fall prevention. Talk with your doctor to discuss which exercises may be best for you before starting a new workout regimen.
Maintain Sharp Vision
Annual eye exams and correct prescription eyeglasses or contacts can prevent serious falls. Poor vision is a major culprit of injuries for people ages 65 and older, due to its effects on your ability to balance.
Wear Proper Footwear
Of course shoes that have high heels, little grip, and are ill-fitting should be avoided, but it’s also important to note the danger of no shoes at all. Socks and stockings affect your ability to balance on hardwood and linoleum flooring, making corners, steps, and rugs trickier to navigate.
Correct Hidden Hazards in the Home
You can usually attribute falls that happen at home to minor risks that can be caught early on. Things like loose rugs, spilled liquids, over-stacked magazines or books, and worn-down bath mats are problem areas waiting to happen. Securing those items and keeping them out of high-traffic areas ensures safer mobility around your home.
Get Assistance With Safety Devices at Home
Prevent falls with assistance from walkers or canes, based on specific recommendations from your doctor, or look into making your shower safer by adding a slip-resistant plastic seat and handheld nozzle. For those who need light assistance, consider adding handrails along both sides of stairways, in your shower or tub, or on either side of a toilet seat for reliable leverage in all points of the home.
Add Enhanced Lighting
Always make sure lighting is crisp and accessible in each area of your home, and you’re stocked up on extra bulbs and working flashlights. Illuminating poorly lit hallways and walkways with nightlights can, at the very least, create wall and corner markers for night owls. And putting lamps and light switches in convenient, easy-to-reach places like your nightstand or right inside entryways puts safety at your fingertips.
Talk to Your Doctor
Part of your regular check-ups should include your questions for continuing to live a safe, independent life. Asking about specific concerns regarding medications and current health conditions can provide unique-to-you solutions to stay secure in your home.
For the most effective solutions in fall prevention, you’ll likely want to consider a specialist, experienced in reestablishing balance and coordination. Thanks to decade-long research for balance and mobility solutions, experts have narrowed down a way to counter-balance the body to overcome neurologic and orthopedic conditions. Now, an immediate, non-invasive treatment can help patients feel more stable and sturdy after just one therapy session. Learn how to stay safe and independent with the help of the new Steady Strides balance therapy program at the Brian Center of Durham. Contact us today for more information!