Preventing Fall Injuries In The Senior Set

As the population ages and the baby boomer generation reach their senior years, fall injuries are expected to become more common. Falls are one of the largest challenges faced by older people, since increased age often leads to more breakable bones. Osteoporosis, once thought to be a woman's disease, is found in men as well. While most men won't develop a "dowager's hump" as a result of bone loss, and new medications prevent it in women, fragile bones are part of getting older.

See Your Doctor

If you get to the point where you are concerned about falling, even if you haven't had a fall yet, begin a fall prevention plan by visiting your doctor. Bring a list of all the medications you are taking, including herbal supplements and over the counter pills. Some medications increase your chance of falling. Be prepared with a list of times you have fallen or almost fallen, where it happened and when. These instances can be valuable clues. Discuss if your medical conditions could increase your odds of a fall. You and your doctor can come up with a plan that will decrease your odds of falling significantly.

Exercise

You don't have to head to the gym seven days a week to reduce your chances of falling injuries. Simple things like a daily walk, joining a tai chi class or a water aerobics group will help you maintain your balance and improve muscle tone. If you have already fallen and are concerned about falling during exercise your doctor may recommend starting out with a supervised exercise program at a physical therapy office. Adding yoga or another stretching program will help keep your muscles long and resilient.

Remove Fall Hazards

Keeping your high traffic areas clear of clutter is another simple yet effective way to prevent falls. Don't leave things on the staircase, take boxes and newspapers out to the trash as soon as you are done with them and don't walk around the house in stocking feet. If you have already had a fall you might want to consider moving some furniture, like coffee tables, out of your regular paths.

Other things you can do include taping down lose rugs, store things you use most in convenient locations and adding non-slip mats to your shower and tub. These small changes aren't going to affect your lifestyle but will help you stay safer. Fall injuries, when serious, can force huge changes in your independence, so anything you can do to reduce your risk is worth while.

Improving the lighting in and around your home is also helpful. One of the key reasons people fall is that they simply didn't see the hazard in time. Make sure that the paths to light switches are clear. Add some automatic nightlights in frequently used areas to help you find your way to the light switch in the dark. Increase the number and strength of lights used outside your home if you come in from activities in the evening; not only will you be safer, it will deter burglars.

Preventing injuries is critical to maintaining independence. Avoiding hip fractures or other skeletal injuries allows you to remain independent and in your home for as long as possible. A few basic measures will help make your home a safer place as the years go by.