PRIME TIME
Fall Prevention 101
By Terri Tobey
F
all Prevention Awareness Day
occurs on the first day of fall
each year. This year, it fell on
September 22. If you missed it, there
is a plethora of vital information
and resources offered by state and
local government agencies, senior
centers, fitness centers, retirement
communities and assisted living
facilities.
First, here are some fast facts:
• One in three Americans age
65+ falls each year.
• Every 11 seconds an older adult
is treated in the emergency room
for a fall.
• Every 19 minutes an older adult
dies from a fall.
• 27,000 deaths occurred last
year.
• $34 billion in medical costs are
due to falls.
Risk factors include diseases of the
nervous system, such as peripheral
neuropathy, multiple sclerosis,
Parkinson’s, stroke, dementia,
Alzheimer’s and diabetes. Other
medical conditions such as vestibular
dysfunction, arthritis, osteoporosis,
postural hypotension, sleep
disorders, and vision and hearing
impairment also contribute as do
associative problems incurred by
medications, muscle weakness, fear
of falling, incorrect use of walkers
and canes, improperly fitted shoes,
and environmental factors.
The first step in reducing fall
risk is a visit to your primary care
provider. Request to have a fall
risk assessment done and ask about
preventive measures. Also, speak
to your pharmacist about your
medications if you are feeling dizzy
or sleepy. Have routine vision and
hearing check-ups to make sure
you have updated prescriptions for
glasses or hearing aids.
Once you have checked in with
your medical providers, enroll in
proven community-based programs
designed to improve stability,
strength, flexibility, endurance, gait
and balance. Participate in regular
Tai Chi, walking, yoga, swimming,
and strength and balance classes.
Remember to “fall-proof” your home
so you can reduce hazards to assure
safer independent living.
The National Conference on Aging
created an initiative for fall risk
reduction and has loads of resources
on the subject that can be found on
their website. The Center for Disease
November 2016
Control publishes a brochure called
“Check for Safety,” which provides
tips on making your home a safer