Reducing the Risk of Falls in Alexandria

September is National Falls Prevention Awareness Month. Join us in understanding what causes falls and how to prevent them.

Common Causes of Falls

There are many causes for falls. While some affect older adults more, younger adults and children may experience a fall from one of the following examples:

• Eyesight, hearing, and/or reflexes not being as sharp as they used to be
• Certain medical conditions that may affect balance, such as diabetes or heart disease
• Dementia
• Loss of muscle mass (Sarcopenia)
• Foot problems and unsafe footwear
• Prescribed medications with side effects, including dizziness or confusion
• Safety hazards in the home

Preventing Falls

Steps to Prevent Falls

The best way to reduce the risk of a fall is to take care of your overall health. With that in mind, there are steps you can take to help avoid falls, health-related and non-health-related.

• Regular physical activity
• Strength and balance exercises
• Get your eyes and ears tested regularly
• Understand medication side effects
• Get plenty of sleep
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Use an assistive device
• Stand up slowly
• Take extra care when walking on wet surfaces
• Keep your hands free
• Wear the correct footwear
• Always inform your doctor if you’ve fallen since your last checkup
• Fall-proof your home

Preventing Falls by Room

Fall-proofing your home isn’t a one-room activity. Most houses will have several spaces that need to be fall-proofed, from stairways, bathrooms, bedrooms, and more. Check below for how to approach fall-proofing all the rooms in your home.

Floors, Stairways, and Hallways: Install handrails on both sides, ensure good lighting throughout, keep walkways clean, and make sure all carpets are firmly fixed to the floor.

Bathrooms: Install grab bars near the toilet and inside and outside of the shower/bath, have nonskid mats on all surfaces that may get wet, and leave a light on at night.

Kitchen: Keep frequently used pots/pans, dishes, and utensils in an easily accessible place, clean spills immediately, and prepare food while seated.

Outdoor Spaces: Ensure the steps leading to the front door are even and unbroken. Add non-slip material to the steps, clean debris from the porch, install a grab bar near the front door, keep a light on at night, and use salt on walkways during winter.

Other Living Spaces: Keep electrical cords near walls, arrange furniture to be out of the way, ensure chair height is ideal for easily getting in and out, keep often-used items at waist height, use a reach stick, know where your pet is at all times, and keep a list of emergency contacts near landlines.

What to Do if You Fall?

If a fall does occur, first, take a deep breath. Then, take a few more, and remain still for a bit. This will assist in getting over that initial shock of falling. Next, decide if you are hurt and where you are hurt. Then, crawl to a sturdy chair or another piece of furniture. Slowly sit down in that chair. You can do so by putting your hands on the seat and then slowly sliding your legs so that you are kneeling, and then slowly rising and turning to sit in the chair. Finally, if you’re hurt or can’t get up, call for help or call 911 if able. Prepare for falls by keeping a charged mobile phone with you at all times, so you can make a call if you’ve fallen.

Griswold Can Help

If you are worried about a loved one falling and don’t want to leave them home alone, Griswold is here to help. One of our Caregivers can be with your loved ones at all times, if needed. They can help with taking care of your loved one, the home, and even just sitting and talking with your loved one.

If you live in or around Alexandria and are interested in learning more, give us a call today. We’d be happy to chat about care options, including our respite care, 24-hour care, and veterans care.