Everyone knows senior relatives or friends whose broken hip or fractured wrist led to a long period of disability and a greatly-diminished quality of life. Almost 6 million older people in a recent quarter-year were injured in falls. Many people have repeated falls. To find out what kind of programs work, researchers examined strategies from all over the world, and found some that were particularly effective. Some simple steps will help to prevent falls in the elderly.
Instructions
in the Elderly
1. Enroll in a class teaching strengthening and balance exercises, like Tai Chi and yoga. Researchers found that classes like this help followers keep their balance, particularly in Asian communities where Tai Chi is a lifetime discipline practiced by all ages. Some form of these ancient arts can be practiced by people, regardless of their ethnicity, age and ability, and senior centers in this country are now offering them.
2. Eat right and do not become overweight. General good health and obesity prevention make people much less likely to fall and, when they do fall, reduce the extent of injury. The more weight on bone and tendons that are stressed by a fall, the more likely they are to tear and break.
3. Organize your home to eliminate obstacles that cause trips. “Less is more” is true when taking stock of the furniture and clutter around your house. Now might be a good time to give away some of the extra furniture that makes it hard to get around. It’s also a good idea to avoid setting things on stairways, even as a reminder to take them up or down stairs. Find a nearby table for that purpose.
4. Light your home so you can see where you are going. Adequate home lighting is sometimes a dilemma for those of us wanting to conserve energy. Make sure that stairways, entrances and commonly-used areas are well-lit, and leave energy-conserving nightlights on near bathrooms and in hallways.
5. Avoid risky situations. Even if you’ve always gotten up on your roof or used an extension ladder to clean your gutters, you may want to ask a friend or relative for help. Try to realistically assess your ability to do certain chores. Sometimes, improved equipment will allow you to continue to do maintenance tasks that require strength, coordination and balance. Investigate these aids to see which may be useful for you.
Tags: Prevent Falls, your home