Such simple things as tripping on a rug or slipping on a wet floor can change your life forever. Falling causes many risks for older adults. If a person falls, it may cause more serious problems like a trip to a hospital or even disability.
The fear of falling becomes more common as people age. It may lead to the elderly people to avoid such habitual activities as walking, participating in social activities, shopping, etc. However, elderly people shouldn’t live with the fear of falling. You can stay active when you overcome this fear and maintain your mental and physical health. There are some common ways to prevent falls for older people. If you follow them, you and your loved ones can continue living their normal life without being afraid to fall and get injured.
- Be physically active and do regular exercises. It should help you improve muscles and make you stronger. Such simple activities as walking or climbing stairs may slow bone loss from osteoporosis.
- Keeping your eyes and hearing tested lets you prevent the risk of falls. If an elderly person needs to wear glasses or contacts, it’s important to ensure they fit well as you wear them.
- Ensure there are no side effects caused by the medicine that you take.
- It’s also important to get enough sleep.
- Limit the amount of alcohol intake. Even a small amount of alcohol can significantly affect your balance and reflexes.
- It’s also advised to stand up slowly and regularly check the blood pressure.