Top 5 Tips to Prevent a Fall

On this first day of fall, we are all looking forward to fun activities to celebrate the season. Brooks Rehabilitation wants to make sure you stay safely on your feet for all of it. According to the CDC, 2.8 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. Brooks Rehabilitation is doing everything possible to reduce the risk of falls for our patients by performing screening tests and educating on patients, residents, clients and staff on possible hazards.

September 22-28^th is National Fall Prevention Awareness Week. Our Fall Prevention Experts compiled these top five tips to keep you and your loved ones safe from falls this season.

Evaluate Your Risk

Knowing if you or a loved one is at risk for falling is the first step to preventing a fall. Talk to your doctor, and explain that you want to know if you’re at risk. Review all of your medications with your MD or pharmacist and inform them if any cause dizziness, loss of balance, confusion, or drowsiness.

Keep Your Home Safe

A safe home can help you live a more balanced and stress-free life. Simple things, like using bath mats in the bathtub, can make a huge difference in fall prevention. Installing grab bars, keeping your home well-lit and making sure there is no clutter will do a lot to keep you steady on your feet.

Find Your Balance

Finding evidence-based balance and exercise program can help with improving and maintaining your balance to reduce your chances of falling. Tai Chi, Moving for Better Balance, Stepping On, Otago and A Matter of Balance are all programs that can help with stability and balance. Whatever program you choose, participating will help improve both your balance and motor skills while having a lot of fun!

Go to Your Annual Check-Ups

Getting your eyes and ears checked annually is a crucial part in preventing falls. After all, your eyes and ears are what keep you standing. If your ears aren’t working properly, your equilibrium could be thrown off. Keeping these two functions working in tip-top condition is necessary for anyone who wants to stay on their toes this fall.

Talk With Your Family

Having your family’s help you through all of these steps will make everything more relaxed and fun. Let them know if you need help rearranging the kitchen so you can reach everything, or if you need assistance installing grab bars. It will help educate them on fall prevention and it will give you time to spend with your family.

We hope everyone has a safe and fun fall season!