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Senior-Friendly Fall Prevention Tips

Updated May 22, 2024

Where do falls among senior and elderly adults occur most frequently? According to data compiled from the National Health Interview Survey, most fall injuries among older people occur inside the home.

Daily, independent seniors over the age of 65 are at risk of falling – a staggering one out of three. According to the CDC, most falls are caused by a combination of risk factors. Some factors, like being a pet owner are more difficult to change, while others, like using corded phones, are easily changed. What really matters is the amount and combination of these factors. Concerned seniors may wish to look into a med alert with fall detection.

Here are some of the best fall prevention tips we can find. We hope these set you on the path to maintaining a safer household.

Conditions that Make You More Likely to Fall

Fall Prevention

These are the most common risk factors that cause falls in seniors:

  • Lower body weakness
  • Vitamin D deficiency
  • Difficulties with walking and balance
  • Use of medications with side effects that include dizziness and drowsiness
  • Vision problems
  • Foot pain or poor footwear
  • Home hazards and dangers such as:

 

How Seniors Can Prevent Falls

Many senior falls are preventable by reducing the number of risky conditions. Older adults can take these preventative measures to ensure their safety:

1. Talk to your doctor

  • Ask your doctor to evaluate your risk for falling
  • Review your medications to see if any of them might cause dizziness or drowsiness
  • Have your eyes checked at least once a year
  • Ask your doctor about medical alert pendants
  • Ask if your doctor has any personalized fall prevention tips to offer

2. Take care of your health

  • Improve your balance with strength and balance exercises that make your legs and core stronger. Tai Chi is a great way to start!
  • Take vitamin D supplements with calcium, if doctor-approved

3. Make your home safer

  • Keep your floors clear of objects you could trip over
  • Keep your home well-lit
  • Get a medical alert system
  • Follow the tips in the infographic below

Fall Prevention Can Keep Seniors Independent

The most important fall prevention tips we can offer require proactive health management. Regularly seeing your doctors is essential to fall prevention for seniors. Ask your doctor to assess what you should be doing to reduce your fall risk.

Every day, make sure to get good nutrition, and remember to take your medications. Incorporate exercise into your day. Most importantly, keep a medical alert system by your side. Medical alert systems ensure that you have easy access to help in any emergency. It’s important for independent seniors to be able to age in place, and medical alert systems help make it possible.

Seniors can be independent and stay safer by remembering these fall prevention tips. From making sure cords are tucked away to using bright-colored tape on steps, to ensuring fast help from Alert1 at the press of a button, the more of these tips you use, the safer you will be.