Elderly Fall Prevention Tips for Seniors in Morristown, TN

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 28-35% of people aged 65 and over fall each year; this rises to 32-42% for those over 70. With nearly half of seniors reporting falls, it's something very real that may happen to you if you're an older adult.

In most cases, it's nothing big, and you can get back up and dust yourself off. But sometimes, the fall can be bad enough to cause injuries, and these may have long-term effects.

To lower the chances of something serious happening, be proactive about elderly fall prevention in Morristown, TN. This post will go over actionable tips you can easily do.

Get a Personalized Fall-Risk Screening

The first step to senior safety in Morristown, TN, is a personalized fall-risk screening. Ideally, you should have one done every year with your doctor.

During this screening, they'll check your:

• Balance
• Walking speed
• Lower-body strength
• Blood pressure changes when standing
• Vision
• Footwear
• Foot issues
• Medications

You should bring a list of all your prescriptions and supplements. And if you've fallen recently, prepare information regarding the fall, such as what happened, where, and when.

Eliminate Trip Hazards at Home

Assisted living apartments already have excellent safety designs. But you can take it a step further for fall risk reduction.

Look around for trip hazards and eliminate them. Actions include:

• Fixing loose boards, wobbly rails, and uneven pavers
• Removing or securing throw rugs (or using rug grippers)
• Routing cords along walls and using cord covers
• Keeping pathways 36 inches wide and clear
• Storing daily-use items at waist to shoulder height to avoid using step stools
• Keeping a reacher/grabber handy to avoid climbing

If you have vision issues, then use high-contrast stair-edging markings. The treads should be non-slip as well.

Build Balance, Strength, and Flexibility

Balance improvement for seniors can make a world of difference against falls. While National Wellness Month was in August, there are still ways to strengthen your body beyond that month.

Every week, aim for two to three sessions that include:

• Balance drills (single-leg stands, tandem stance/walk, heel-to-toe walking)
• Strength (Sit-to-stands, mini-squats, step-ups, resistance-band rows)
• Flexibility (ankle circles, calf stretches, and hamstring stretches)

To make things more interesting, consider taking classes in tai chi, Otago, or chair yoga.

Tackle Dizziness and Vestibular Issues

Some older adults may feel lightheaded or that the room spins, especially when rolling in bed or looking up. The lightheadedness and dizziness may be caused by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Keeping a dizziness diary can speed diagnosis, as you can keep track of:

• What triggers it
• How long it lasts
• What helps

You can look into vestibular therapy, where physical therapists teach repositioning maneuvers and balance retraining.

Review Medications That Raise Fall Risk

This may come as a surprise, but some medications can increase drowsiness, slow your reaction time, or drop your blood pressure. They include:

• Sleep aids
• Some pain meds
• Certain anxiety meds
• Some antidepressants
• Multiple blood pressure drugs together

Do note that some drug-alcohol and drug-heat interactions can also worsen dehydration and dizziness.

If you're concerned that your medications are raising your fall risk, then ask your doctor to review them. Ask if any can be lowered, changed, or shifted to bedtime.

Prevent Blood Pressure Drops When Standing

Some people experience orthostatic hypotension, which is a drop in blood pressure when they stand up. As you might expect, this can cause sudden dizziness.

While you can't pop a pill to stop this, there are helpful habits you can adopt to decrease symptoms, such as:

• Standing up in stages (sit, dangle feet, stand, and pause before walking)
• Hydrating well (unless you're on fluid restrictions)
• Wearing compression socks (if approved by your doctor)
• Avoiding sudden head turns or looking up quickly

Get Regular Vision and Hearing Care

Older adults should update their glasses annually. If you wear bifocals or progressives, you should be extra careful when using the stairs; consider using single-vision lenses for outdoor walking if your eye doctor thinks it'll help. In addition, you should have cataracts diagnosed and treated when recommended.

At home, adding task lighting and reducing glare with matte finishes and sheer curtains can help you navigate the space in a safer fashion.

Don't forget about your hearing, either. Hearing loss can reduce environmental awareness, and it's linked to balance issues. If you need hearing aids, then always keep them clean, charged, and fitted.

Manage Chronic Conditions That Affect Balance

One of the key memory care safety strategies is managing chronic conditions for a better quality of life. Doing so can also improve your balance and decrease falls.

For example, seniors with diabetes or neuropathy need to have daily foot checks. Check that you're wearing proper shoes and inserts and that your glucose is under control.

Or those with heart and lung disease should pace activities and have plenty of rest breaks. If you're eligible, sign up for pulmonary/cardio rehab.

Wear Stable and Grippy Footwear

If you're searching for assisted living mobility tips, then one is to wear low-heel, closed-back shoes that have firm heel counters and non-slip soles. Footwear you should avoid includes:

• Floppy slippers
• High heels
• Overly cushioned, mushy soles

Plus, take good care of your feet. Inspect them weekly and perform the following tasks:

• Trim nails straight across
• Moisturize dry skin
• Treat corns and calluses with a podiatrist's help

Inserts and braces can help if you have toe drag, neuropathy, or ankle instability. So ask about these if you're interested.

Elderly Fall Prevention Is Possible for You

Elderly fall prevention is of the utmost importance if you want to retain independence and a high quality of life in your golden years. And with this list, you'll be able to keep yourself safe.

But safety isn't a static thing, so it's not a one-and-done deal. Make sure that you reassess every six months or after any fall, as your body and the environment can change. Staying on top of things will make life a lot easier and safer.

TerraBella Morristown is a pet-friendly assisted living community with an inviting parlor. To learn more about senior living in Morristown, TN, contact us now.