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Fall Prevention

Learn more about fall prevention in your home

Many falls can be prevented.

It all begins with an idea. Falls can be prevented. These are some simple things you can do to keep yourself from falling. Sourced from CDC website

Make Your Home Safer

  • Get rid of things you could trip over.

  • Add grab bars inside and outside your tub or shower and next to the toilet.

  • Put railings on both sides of the stairs.

  • Make sure your home has lots of light by adding more or brighter light bulbs.

  • Keep items you use often in cabinets you can reach easily without using a step stool.

  • Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.

Talk to Your Doctor

  • Ask your doctor or healthcare provider to evaluate your risk for falling and talk with them about specific things you can do.

  • Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medicines to see if any might make you dizzy or sleepy. This should include prescription medicines and over-the counter medicines.

Do Strength and Balance Exercises

  • Do exercises that make your legs stronger and improve your balance. Tai Chi is a good example of this kind of exercise.

Have Your Eyes Checked

  • Have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year, and be sure to update your eyeglasses if needed.

  • If you have bifocal or progressive lenses, you may want to get a pair of glasses with only your distance prescription for outdoor activities, such as walking. Sometimes, these types of lenses can make things seem closer or farther away than they really are.

Each year, millions of older people—those 65 and older—fall

  • More than one out of four older people falls each year, but less than half tell their doctor. Falling once doubles your chances of falling again.

  • Falls—and the injuries and deaths they cause—are increasing. Learn how you can prevent falls. Learn more

  • Falls are a threat to the health of older adults and can reduce their ability to remain independent. However, falls don’t have to be inevitable as you age. You can reduce your chance of falling or help a loved one prevent falls. There are proven ways to reduce and prevent falls, even for older adults. We identify older adults as anyone 65 years and older.

  • Falls among adults 65 and older caused over 34,000 deaths in 2019, making it the leading cause of injury death for that group.

  • 2019 the emergency department recorded 3 million visits for older adult falls.

  • Older adult falls cost $50 billion in medical costs annually, with 3/4 paid by Medicare and Medicaid.