Falls are one of the greatest concerns among people over the age of 65. Older Americans are more prone to falls but there are steps to take to prevent them.
Any fall, even without injury, leads to a fear of future falls and often leads to decreased activity in older adults. Some of the risk factors for falls include: Poor vision, lower body weakness (including gait and balance issues), improper footwear and hazards at home such as throw rugs, broken stairs, poorly placed furniture, and low toilets. Medications like antidepressants, pain medicines, unmonitored high blood pressure medicines, or sedatives also can cause issues that increase the risk of a fall.
Many older adults can minimize the risk of falls by taking these simple steps:
- Talk to your doctor to review your risks and talk about your medications.
- Have your vision monitored.
- Remove and/or repair hazards within your home and add safety equipment as needed.
- Exercise daily for strengthening and balance.
Baptist Retirement Homes is dedicated to helping our community stay healthy and safe in place. We partner with Legacy Healthcare Services to provide physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy for residents as they recover from a variety of health-related issues and to help strengthen those in our communities through ongoing outpatient treatment.
We are proud of our commitment to the ones who have entrusted their care to us in this stage of life and our teams are ready to serve your needs, from recovery to on-going conditioning.