Tips to prevent seniors from falling

KSDK -- According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 16,000 older adults die from injuries related to falls every year.


Ann Bannes from St. Andrew's Senior Solutions joined NewsChannel 5's Jennifer Blome to discuss tips for preventing falls. Click on the video link to watch the interview.

To stay safe, St. Andrew's offers the following suggestions:
Get regular hearing and vision check-ups. Have your eyes examined each year for vision changes, cataracts, glaucoma or other eye problems. Your hearing should also be checked every two years. And if a hearing aid is needed, be sure it's properly fitted.

Discuss the risk of medication side effects with your doctor or pharmacist. Be sure to find out if a medicine being prescribed to you could affect your coordination or balance.

Get regular exercise. Exercise helps improve strength, muscle tone and balance, and keeps joints flexible.

Limit alcohol intake. Even small amounts of alcohol can interfere with medications and could affect balance.

Take your time getting up after lying down for long periods of time. Getting up too quickly can cause you to become dizzy.

If you feel unsteady, a cane or walker can provide balance. Be sure to use extra caution in wet and icy conditions.

Wear low-heeled, rubber-soled shoes with good support. Refrain from wearing socks or smooth-soled slippers on hardwood and tile floors and on stairs.

Additional changes in the home environment can also go a long way towards preventing falls. The following tips can help keep seniors safe at home:

Be sure stairways and halls have good lighting and are clutter-free. Ensure carpet is firmly attached and use reflective tape at the top and bottom of stairs. Also check to make sure handrails are tightly fastened and run the entire length of the stairs.

Arrange furniture in living areas to avoid interference with walking, properly secure area rugs and remove electrical and telephone cords from walking paths.

In the bedroom, place a nightlight by the bed or check to see if there is a light switch within reach of the bed. Telephones should also be placed near the bed, and the floor should be free from clutter.

Install grab bars near the toilet and bathtub in bathrooms. Also use nonskid tub mats or abrasive strips inside the tub and non-skid carpet on the floor. In addition, raised toilet seats can be useful for those who have difficulty standing or sitting.

Clean up kitchen spells immediately, place items on lower shelves for easy reach, and use step stools on even surfaces when retrieving something on a high shelf.

Outside, clear obstacles on walkways, repair stair and sidewalk cracks and remove ice from stairs and walkways.

To learn more about fall prevention and the potentially devastating impact of falls on the older adult population, contact St. Andrew's Senior Solutions, log on to www.standrewsseniorsolutions.com, or call (314) 726-5766.