According to the American Association of Neurosurgeons, “the most common way to die after age 65 is to fall down.” Whether or not this is true, old people are certainly more likely to fall than young people and the consequences of falling are more likely to be severe and permanent.
Fortunately, fall-prevention resources are available, both actual and virtual. When I googled “preventing falls,” I got “10,800,000 results in 0.24 seconds.” (Four of the first five listings include the word “elderly.”) Longterm Care.gov offers information and links to other resources. The Mayo Clinic website offers tips for preventing falls. In Tucson, our local Area Agency on Aging offers classes on preventing falls and this is likely to be true at other AAAs around the country.
To prevent falls, you can work on both yourself and your environment.
Modifying Ourselves
There are numerous exercises and exercise programs to help seniors improve their balance. The Mayo Clinic has an online slideshow showing exercises that improve balance. The Arthritis Foundation also provides online resources and many cities offer classes that teach balance exercises and “postural fitness.” To learn more, check with your local Area Agency on Aging.
Modifying Our Environment
According to most authorities on falls, there are three categories of tripping hazards:
The first is clutter, like newspapers or clothing on the floor. Look around and try to designate places (bins, shelves, hampers) for your main sources of clutter. If your clutter problems are extreme, you’re not alone. “Hoarding” is being recognized as a national disease and googling “control clutter” will lead you to numerous tips for dealing with it. You may even find “clutter removal specialists” in your community.
The second category is hazards that are part of your home décor. Throw rugs and electric cords lying on the floor come first to mind, followed by shelves and furniture with projecting edges. Walk through your house with an eye toward obstacles and potential hazards. It’s a good idea to rearrange or remove them.
The last category is improper lighting. Wherever you are in your home, at any time of day or night, you should be able to see what you’re doing. Lighting problems can usually be fixed with strategically placed lamps, nightlights, and flashlights. Each room should have a light switch next to each door used for entry and exit. Dimmer switches will allow you to move through your house at night without shocking your eyes with sudden brightness. Lighting is especially important if pets and pet toys turn up underfoot unpredictably.
Outdoor Hazards
In addition to checking inside your house for hazards, your yard, street, and parking area may also be inhospitable to your future self. Even if you can’t change them, you can be alert and take account of them.
My personal experience with falls is limited. My one serious fall, which happened outdoors on a hike, resulted in a broken wrist. It was a good lesson in how little it takes for you to need a lot of assistance. For more than a week, I couldn’t tie back my own hair, open a jar, or do other simple tasks too numerous to mention. Since then, I’ve become much more aware of common tripping hazards.
I’ve also noticed that as my friends and acquaintances get older, fall-related injuries are more common. At a recent gathering of women I’ve known for years, almost half had experienced a tear, sprain, or break within the past two years. These women are fit and healthy, but as the median age approaches 70, our bodies are showing signs of age.