4 Ways to Prevent Falls and Avoid Injury
December 14, 2021 | Tags:
As people get older, they naturally lose muscle strength and stability. This can make older people more prone to falling, and more likely to suffer a resulting injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you’ve fallen once, your chance of falling again doubles.
The best way to decrease your risk of injuries and complications from falls is to prevent a fall from happening in the first place. The CDC recommends these tips:
Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) if you have any concerns about falling, and review your medications with your PCP.
Check your risk for falling with this checklist and share the results with your PCP. Your healthcare provider can also tell you if any of your medicines may make you sleepy or dizzy. Print and complete this helpful medication list to keep track.
Exercise to help with balance and strength.
Doing exercises that focus on your balance and leg strength will reduce your chances of falling. A few activities to try are Tai Chi, yoga, resistance training and even regular walking. Some Medicare plans, including MedMutual Advantage plans, offer access to no-cost strength and balance exercise classes with SilverSneakers®.
Get your feet and eyes checked annually.
Check with your eye doctor every year to see if you need to update your eyeglass prescription. Having trouble seeing can increase your risk of falling. Ask your PCP to check your feet, make sure you have proper footwear, and tell you if you should see a foot specialist. If you are a Medical Mutual member, you can find eye doctors, foot specialists and other providers by visiting MedMutual.com/ProviderSearch.
Check your home for safety.
Do you have any areas to fix in your living space that will help prevent falls? Use this checklist to identify common household falling hazards.