Preventing falls
With the likelihood of having a fall naturally increasing as we age, it is important that we look at ways we can help to prevent these. Radfield Home Care Havering and Brentwood have come up with some easy to implement tips that can help us all avoid a painful fall. Quick to implement, these small changes allow us to safely continue with our independent and active lifestyles.
How can I reduce the likelihood of having a fall?
The best place to start is good old fashioned prevention and identifying those things we can quickly address ourselves. We can start by identifying things about us personally that can contribute to having a fall and then we expand this by looking at how our environment can contribute to having a fall. Have a read below, it could really make a difference!
- How is your eyesight? Our eyesight alters overtime and this can contribute to a fall, e.g. our depth perception, particularly useful when walking up and down stairs, may change and we misjudge our steps. Our focus can become blurry, or perhaps our eyesight is particularly strained in one eye etc. It is important that we attend regular eye examinations, at least every two years, at a local optician.
- Keeping active – Maintain good balance and coordination are both essential in helping us move safely within our environment. There are simple exercises we can do and a range of resources available with engaging strength and balance exercises for us all. Before starting any new fitness regime it’s always always important to check this with your doctor – confirming what would be suitable for you personally. This ensures you carry out the right exercise, get the best training guidance available and of course the best results!
- What are you wearing on your feet? Greater stability, and the ability to move around the house safely, is directly linked to our footwear. Footwear with good grip keeps us planted to the floor which is especially important when going up and down stairs and on more slippery surfaces such as kitchen tiles (avoiding wearing socks or going barefoot). Wearing the right type of footwear when we exercise, or according to the weather, will make such a difference. Remember to check that they are not too loose and are not showing signs of obvious wear and tear.
- Have you had a medication review recently? Whether you have been taking something for a long time, or have recently been prescribed something new, it’s important to bear in mind that some medications can have side effects such as dizziness. Your doctor is on hand to review these and it’s a great idea to have this done every 12 months and/or as soon as you are concerned.
- What’s in the fridge? What we eat and drink can have a big impact on our stability and can contribute to us having a fall. Regular meals and glasses of water ensure we have that all important balance of hydration and nutrition – reducing dizzy spells and keeping our strength up throughout the day.
How can falls at home be reduced?
Again, many of the following tips are simple, quick and easy to implement but make such a difference when we move around at home. Combined with the tips above, these all work together to reduce the likelihood of us having a fall.
- Having a well lit home
- Removing any clutter and trailing wires, in particular from the floor and stairs
- Think about wearing a supportive pair of indoor shoes to avoid slips and trips
- Make sure your clothing won’t cause a trip hazard
- Taking your time to get up and out of bed and chairs, reducing those dizzy spells
- Use non slip rugs and carpets – replacing or removing old frayed carpet
- Consider modifications you feel would help with your mobility and ability to live at home independently, this could include help going up and down stairs for example
- Avoid climbing onto chairs to access things, consider moving things around so they are easily accessible
As we know, the majority of falls can be avoided by making small adjustments to our environment and ensuring we undergo an MOT to check our general eye health and review our medications. Radfield is always on hand to provide extra support with mobility and home care assistance and are proud to be able to help our clients feel safer at home.
Radfield Home Care Havering and Brentwood always personalise their home care packages so that they truly reflect their clients needs. If you would like to find out more about Radfield Home Care and the care support services offered, you can visit www.radfieldhomecare.co.uk or contact the office directly [email protected] or 01708 609 364.
