How to Protect Against Falls

Accidents happen, and by their very nature, you can often do nothing to prevent them from happening. That shouldn’t stop you from trying.

Falling happens all the time when you’re a child; it’s part of the learning process. In most cases, it does no harm. However, falling as an older adult is a different story. A fall can break bones, leading to a hospital stay, decreased mobility, and even depression. In many cases, the older adult never fully recovers.

According to the CDC, one in four adults over 65 will fall yearly. Alarmingly, falls are listed as the leading cause of injury-related death among adults over 65.

While you may not be able to prevent all falls, you can take steps to protect your loved ones.

Falls Away from Home

Most older people try to remain independent for as long as possible. This often means staying in their own homes or switching to a nursing home.

In both instances, you’re unlikely to be there if they fall. It’s a good idea to invest in a fall alarm that will alert you if there is an issue.

It’s impossible to say which environment is safer. However, statistics suggest that residents in nursing homes are twice as likely to suffer a fall than those in the community.

Falls in nursing homes are often a result of negligence. Specifically, the facility fails to maintain a safe environment and sufficiently supervise your loved ones. Seeking compensation after the event will help deal with the cost of the fall. Preventing it is better:

Make Regular Visits to the Home

Unfortunately, nursing homes notice which residents have regular visitors, and which don’t. Those with frequent visitors will be looked after better because the home knows they can be held accountable.

Simply visiting often will reduce the risk of a fall.

If your loved one is still in their own home, you still need to visit regularly to check on them. Installing bars in showers, baths, and anywhere the surface changes level is also a good idea. It will help them move around their home safely.

Exercise with Older People

A key factor in falls is the loss of balance and muscle mass, which is normal as you age. You can help improve balance and muscle tone by doing exercises with your loved ones. Focus on mimicking actions they do every day, such as getting out of a chair. You can progress to resistance training or even a little weightlifting. Yoga and Tai chi are also good for balance and flexibility.

While learning exercises together, it’s a good idea to help them build up their immune system.

Falls at Your Home

Whether your loved ones are visiting or staying with you, the following can help to prevent falls in your home. Many of these can also be applied to their home if they are still in it.

Rugs

Rugs are incredible for warmth, but they can also be a slip hazard. Invest in nonskid rugs or stick your existing ones to the floor. It’s also best if the rugs and carpet are low-pile; this minimizes the likelihood of slips.

Remember to put nonskid mats in the shower as well.

Seats

It’s a good idea to fit seats in the shower and anywhere else where older people may need to take a rest. Alongside this, add bars to showers, near sinks, and toilets. It gives them something to grab if they slip.

Handrails

Most fall prevention techniques in the home revolve around giving people something to steady themselves and hopefully stop them from falling. Add handrails to your stairs and any stepped areas in your home.

Falling Properly

While you need to plan to prevent falls and hope they don’t happen, it can help to educate everyone in the best way to fall. You can practice this by falling onto a mattress.

Focus on leaning forward, bending your knees, and landing on a cushioned part of the body, such as the buttocks. Follow through by leaning your shoulder into the fall: this protects the head. If possible, aim for a softer surface, such as carpet or grass, as opposed to hardwood or concrete.

This is also a good opportunity to look at how to prevent osteoporosis with your diet. Strengthening bones reduces the risk of serious injury in a fall.

Summing Up

Falls don’t need to be an inevitable part of aging. You may be thinking about moving your parents in with you, getting them into a nursing home, or are simply concerned that they are no longer as steady on their feet. The above tips can help prevent them from falling and help them land safely if they do fall.

The good news is it's easy to instigate these changes in your home without compromising your goal of a simpler, healthier, more sustainable life.