Falls are a major cause of injury in the elderly population and can even lead to death. Unfortunately, falls are sometimes unavoidable, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk. Here are some tips to help you prevent fatal falling accidents for seniors:
1. Exercise regularly – Exercising regularly helps seniors maintain their balance and strength. Low impact exercises such as walking, swimming, and yoga can be beneficial for keeping your body fit and healthy.
2. Have regular eye checkups – Visible impairments can increase the likelihood of a fall. Having regular checkups with an optometrist is necessary to ensure that vision stays sharp and that glasses are up to date if needed.
3. Wear comfortable footwear - Wearing shoes that fit properly is extremely important for stability and avoiding trips or slips on the flooring surfaces. Make sure shoes fit comfortably, have good grip on the soles, and provide enough cushioning for feet and ankles when walking around or standing for long periods of time.
4. Clear clutter from walkways - Removing obstacles such as furniture or clutter from walkways makes it easier to navigate through a home without tripping over items left out in hallways or doorways. Invest in slip-resistant rugs or runners as an extra precaution against slipping when wet surfaces are present in any areas of your home.
5. Install grab bars - Installing grab bars near toilets or showers helps seniors get better leverage when getting up after sitting down for a period of time, minimizing the chances of slipping or tripping while transitioning from a seated position to standing up straight again.
6. Use adaptive devices - There are many devices such as cane grips, walkers, wheelchairs, etc., that can help make it easier to get around safely without increasing the chances of taking a tumble due to unstable footing surfaces or competing objects placed within walking areas indoors or outdoors.