WHY DO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT FALLS?

• 1 fall per second for U.S. older adults
• 1 in 4 older adults falls each year
• Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall
• Around 1 million hospitalizations each year related to a fall

 

Your Body

Your Envirmonment

Your Tools

Your Support Network

Your Plan

YOUR BODY

• Be sure to:
• Schedule a yearly physical
• Review medications & take them as recommended
• Schedule a yearly eye exam
• Plan for sufficient rest and sleep
• Exercise regularly

YOUR BODY

Wellness exercise classes available at the Seymour Center & Passmore Center– see current Endless Possibilities

Evidence-based Exercise Programs for Falls Prevention:

• A Matter of Balance
• Tai Chi For Arthritis (or other Tai Chi options)
• Walk With Ease from the Arthritis Foundation
• Moving For Better Balance from YMCA

YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Pay close attention to spaces where you notice unsteadiness, there has already been a fall, or has nearly been a fall:

Kitchen

Living Room

Bathroom

Bedroom

Stairs

Entry

YOUR ENVIRONMENT

In each of these areas, consider:

• Handholds
• Lighting
• Slip and Trip Hazards

YOUR TOOLS

• Glasses
• Footwear
• Assistive Technology
• Walker or Cane
• Grab Bars
• Shower Chairs

YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK

• Family, Friends, & Neighbors
• Healthcare Team: Physician, Specialists, Therapists, Pharmacists
• Local Community Supports: Handy Helpers, Home Safety Evaluations, Medical Equipment Loans, Community Paramedicss

YOUR PLAN

• Consider an Emergency Alert System
• Build habits and routines that support safety
• Make a plan for recovery if you DO have a fall

YOUR PLAN

• Plan your steps for recovery and getting help in each of your most-used spaces.
• Keep phones within reach of floor level.
• Make sure there is a sturdy, firm seat into each room.
• Keep a blanket and/or pillow within reach of the floor.
• Consider how often someone is visiting/calling to check on you.
• Practice getting up from floor level.

 

Avoid immediately standing up all the way. If you are helping another person, avoid pulling on arms or shoulders to help them up.

LET'S
PRACTICE!

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Marie Dagger, MS, OTR/L, ECHM
919-245-4279
Mdagger@orangecountync.gov

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Orange County Aging Helpline:
919-968-2087
AgingTransitions@orangecountync.gov