How to Prevent Indoor Falls
January 21, 2019 | Todd Lewison
We’ve all heard about the friend or family member who fell and broke his or her hip and had to wait around for hours until somebody came and found them. You definitely don’t want this sort of accident to happen to you (or anyone you know), so we’ve compiled a list of tips of how to prevent indoor falls.
- Utilize a cane or walker, so that if you start to fall, you will have something near you to steady yourself with.
- Be conscientious with the type of shoes you wear- using rubber-soled shoes could help prevent slipping.
- Keep rooms free of clutter- steeping and then tripping on a free roaming lego ( that a grandkid left out) can be a painful experience!
- Use rugs that are either tacked to the floor or have skid proof backs- sometimes mats in the kitchen can get water underneath them and may slip when you step on them.
- It is very important for the stairs in your house to have rails on them- these help with balance and grip went you feel like you are about to fall.
- Always carry your cell phone or alert device in your pocket (and a portable charger too), so that if you do fall, you won’t have to crawl to the nearest phone.
- Stretch and exercise regularly, so that if you do fall, your body will be stronger and there (most likely) would be less damage than if you didn’t build up your strength at all.
- Vision: Make sure that you have an up-to-date eyeglass prescription because “In the aging eye, less light reaches the retina—making contrasting edges, tripping hazards, and obstacles harder to see.” ( National Council on Aging)
- Be careful with non-prescription medication that have sleep aids in them because these can cause dizziness and issues with balance. You can always talk with your doctor about alternative medications ( that don’t produce dizziness as a side effect).
