Falls are a threat to the health of older adults and can reduce their ability to remain independent. However, falls don't have to be inevitable as you age. You can reduce your chance of falling or help a loved one prevent falls. There are proven ways to reduce and prevent falls, even for older adults.

 

Why prevention is important

• Each year there are about 300,000 hip fracture-related hospitalizations due to older adult falls.
• In 2019, 83% percent of hip fracture deaths and 88% of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for hip fractures were caused by falls.
• Women experience about 70% of hip fractures treated in the emergency department or hospital.

Preventing a fall or hip fracture

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

• Ask your doctor or health care provider to evaluate your risk for falling and talk with them about specific things you can do.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medicines to see if any might make you dizzy or sleepy. Include prescription medicines and over-the counter medicines.

GET SCREENED FOR OSTEOPOROSIS

• Get screened for osteoporosis and treated if needed.

DO STRENGTH AND BALANCE EXERCISES

• Do exercises that make your legs stronger and improve your balance.

HAVE YOUR EYES CHECKED

• Have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year and be sure to update your eyeglasses if needed.
• If you have bifocal or progressive lenses, you may want to get a pair of glasses with only your distance prescription for outdoor activities, such as walking. Sometimes bifocal or progressive lenses can make things seem closer or farther away than they really are.

MAKE YOUR HOME SAFER

• Get rid of things you could trip over.
• Add grab bars inside and outside your tub or shower and next to the toilet.
• Put railings on both sides of stairs.
• Make sure your home has lots of light by adding more or brighter light bulbs.

Reference

• About Older Adult Fall Prevention
• A Descriptive Analysis of Location of Older Adult Falls that Resulted in Emergency Department Visits in the U.S., 2015 (American Journal of Lifestyle Living, August 2020)
• Trends in Nonfatal Falls and Fall-related Injuries Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years—U.S., 2012–2018 (MMWR, July 2020)
• Fall-related Emergency Department Visits Involving Alcohol Among Older Adults (Journal of Safety Research, June 2020)