How to Prevent Falls for Senior Citizens
By Sara Butler
Protecting family members and friends who are senior citizens is important to everyone. You want to make sure they’re safe and healthy, and one of the best ways you can do that is by helping them to prevent falls. Falls are the most prevalent cause of injury among senior citizens. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that about one-third of adults over 65 suffer an injury from a fall at some point during the year. Falls can impact the overall health and wellness of seniors, which makes avoiding them all the more important. Here are a few tips to help you reduce the risk of falls in elderly neighbors, friends, and family.
Get Vision Checked Regularly
Seniors need to have complete physicals, including vision checks, each year. They need to be aware of any challenges they may face with their vision in order to ensure that they can get around safely. Older adults should wear prescription glasses if they need them. Walkers and canes need to be assessed by medical professionals too, to make sure they’re being used properly.
Exercise
Keeping seniors active is very important to their overall health and it helps to reduce their risk of falling. Exercise helps them to keep their stability, coordination, and flexibility in good shape and helps to keep their muscles strong. Seniors can choose from a variety of low-impact exercises to achieve this, such as walking, swimming, tai chi, and cycling.
Proper Footwear and Clothing
Footwear is very important in the prevention of falls. Seniors should wear shoes that fit properly and offer good support. They should also have nonskid soles to help reduce slips. High heels, slippers, or shoes with slick soles are a falling hazard for a lot of older people. Old shoes should be thrown away and clothing should also be assessed to make sure it fits properly and isn’t so loose it could catch on something.
Falls are a common injury among senior citizens but they’re preventable. You don’t want to see a loved one take a nasty spill that could result in limiting of their independence or the decline of their health, so make sure you work with the seniors in your life to help keep them safe and secure. If you need help learning more about fall prevention, the chiropractors at The Joint are a great resource!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Woodland Hills, Calif.
