Preventing Falls

Falls can lead to disability from brain damage, fractured bones, and muscle sprains. Fall risk increases with age due to declining eyesight and hearing loss. Falls also result from age-related medical conditions like arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease. Use the strategies and resources mentioned in this article to help yourself, your family, and your friends to avoid falling down.

Strategies
Checkups – use a checklist to assess your fall risk.
Devices – wear a pendant or smartwatch to detect falls and call for help.
Distractions – suspend the use of smartphones and headphones when driving, exercising, or walking.
Exercise – maintain strength and stability with daily exercise (i.e., aerobics, strengthening, and yoga); use a fitness tracker.
Footwear – prevent trips by wearing practical shoes (e.g., slip-ons, low heels, etc.).
Gait – take slow, steady steps when walking; use a walking stick for balance and a gate sensor for steadiness. 
Health – get annual health, hearing, and vision checkups.
Medication – avoid medications that cause confusion, dizziness, lightheadedness, or muscle loss.
Standing  - focus on standing straight to distribute weight evenly and improve balance.
Seating – improve chair safety by tightening legs, locking rollers, and replacing worn-out seats.
Upgrade – add grab bars, eliminate clutter, improve lighting, install railings, and remove rugs.
Vital Signs - monitor vital signs since low blood pressure and blood oxygen can cause dizziness.

Apps

Articles


 Checklists
 Checkups (National Council on Aging)
 Homes (CDC)
 Seating (NEMC)
 Workplaces (University of Maryland)


Exercise
Balance (Jessica Valant)
Qigong (Don Fiore)
Strength Training (Team Body Project)
Yoga (Yoga Vista)
Workout (Senior Shape)

Websites
CDC (Fall Prevention)
NCOA (Public Awareness)
NIH (Articles and Infographic)
WA (Prevention Resources)

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