More Fall, Less Fall Risk
When you think of the word “fall”, many things that come to mind are cooler temperatures, cozy sweaters, football, and bonfires. However, to your friends that work in healthcare- the word “fall” has a much stronger, and not so great meaning attached to it.
According to the World Health Organization, “falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide.” Many factors increase this risk for falls as we age, including muscle weakness, issues with blood pressure, balance problems, or deficits in cognition impacting overall problem solving and safety awareness.
There are several ways to reduce this risk:
- Keep your mind and body active
- Have your eyes and hearing tested
- Educate yourself on the side effects of your medications
- Make sure you are getting enough sleep
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
- Stand up slowly, do not get in a rush
- If it has been recommended by a healthcare professional that you should use an assistive device (walker, cane, wheelchair) make sure you are using them appropriately
- Be careful when walking on wet or icy surfaces (or avoid them altogether)
- Wear non-skid, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes; or lace-up shoes with non-skid soles that fully support your feet
- Always tell your doctor if you have fallen since your last check up, even if you are not hurt
(information gathered by the NIH National Institute on Aging)
If you are concerned about a family member or yourself regarding falling, grab your favorite fall drink and browse the NIH website to learn how to “fall proof” your home, what to do if you have a fall, and how to keep your bones strong to prevent falls.
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/prevent-falls-and-fractures
If you know of someone who has had a fall that has resulted in a hospitalization, feel free to reach out to one of our Sunterra Springs locations about receiving therapy services and nursing care in order to regain that lost function, and prevent risk of future falls.
