Falls

According to statistics shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 36 million falls occur among adults age 65 and older in the United States each year. Over 950,000 older adults are hospitalized due to falls every year. This is the most common cause of injury and hospital admission for trauma among older Americans. In fact, older adults are hospitalized for fall-related injuries five times more often than for injuries of all other causes.

The CDC offer the following tips to help prevent falls: 

Stay Active

• Do exercises to improve your leg strength and balance.

Make Your Home Safer

• Keep floors free of trip hazards like throw rugs.
• Install grab bars in the bathrooms.
• Use extra lights and brighter bulbs to improve visibility in your home.

Speak Up

• Tell you're doctor if you are unsteady, are afraid you are going to fall, or have already fallen.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medications for any that might make you feel dizzy or sleepy.
• Get an eye exam at least once a year.
• Have a doctor check your feet at least once a year and discuss proper footwear.

Fall Prevention Resources

• The Art of Falling Safely (American Association of Retired Persons)
• Check for Safety: A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults English | Spanish 
• Falls Free Checkup (National Council on Aging)
• Get the Facts on Falls Prevention (National Council on Aging)
• Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries (STEADI) (CDC)
• STEADI Home Safety Tour (CDC)
• What You Can Do to Prevent Falls (CDC) English | Spanish