Fall Prevention: Reduce your risk!

• Recoveries are painful.
• Recoveries are costly.
• Falls can cause irreversible head trauma or fractures.
• Fall—related brain trauma, brain death are on the rise.
• Death often occurs within six months of a fall.
• Most falls are avoidable.

Reduce your risk: Limit alcohol

• Alcohol affects balance.
• Alcohol can cause confusion.
• Alcohol causes falls / lowers blood pressure.
• Alcohol mixes with pain medications.
• Alcohol can lead to internal bleeding
  (which causes light headedness and falls).

Reduce your Risk: Report these symptoms

• Stumbling
• Dropping things
• Light headedness
• Difficulty seeing
• Getting up suddenly (especially at night)
• Hurrying to the bathroom

Reduce your risk: Exercise

• Stay strong. Walk often.
• Walk in level places.
• Wear flat THIN soled shoes.
• Watch for water or ice patches when mall walking in winter.

Reduce your risk: Med set-ups

• Use pill boxes to set up medications to avoid double dosing by accident.
• Taking lots of medications?
• Have someone double check your set-ups.

Reduce your risk: Call 911!

• Don’t drive yourself to the ER
• Chest pain
• Severe headaches
• Blackouts
• One-sided weakness

Reduce your risk: Assistive devices
Invest in a walker with chair seat serves to carry items.

• Install grab bars in bathrooms.
• Install rails on both sides of stairwells.
• Sit in chairs with handles.
• Use wheel chair brakes!
• Tub or shower mats & chairs.
• Get a commode (for urgent night time use).

Reduce your risk: Fear not!

• Don’t let fear of falling keep you from getting outdoors. Immobility increases risk.
• Don’t let fear of falling make you shuffle. Shuffling puts you more at risk for a fall.
• Walk confidently, walk often, but know and avoid the risks.

Reduce your risk: Home safety

• Mark the edges of dark steps with bright tape.
• Keep lights bright and use night lights.
• Keep pathways clutter free.
• Donate sharp cornered coffee tables or scatter rugs to the thrift store.

Reduce your risk: Caregivers – don’t be afraid. Ask for help!

• Call Senior Linkage 1-800-333-2433
  for resource connections.
• Call Senior Linkage if you can’t afford the medications you need.
• Consult your MD quickly about symptoms
  (either yours or the person you care for).

Reduce your risk: Be careful

• Get up slowly.
• Avoid carrying things up & down stairs.
• Don’t use step stools without side handles.
• Use grabber devices to avoid bending over.
• Consider getting a lifeline if you’re at risk.