Preventing Falls as You Age: What Every Senior Needs to Know

Sept. 22 is National Falls Prevention Awareness Day, a reminder that falls remain a serious risk for older adults. More than one in four seniors age 65+ in the U.S. experiences a fall each year, with many leading to serious injuries like hip fractures or head trauma. While aging does increase fall risk, it's important to know that falls aren't an inevitable part of growing older—many can be prevented with simple precautions. 

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Six things you can do to prevent falls:

1. Keep moving. Find an exercise class near you, like Overlake’s FREE Seated Yoga for Balance class, to help improve balance and strength. Moderate daily exercise will improve your muscle tone and reduce your risk of falling.
2. Talk to your healthcare provider. Tell them about any recent falls and review your medication. Some medications, or combinations of medicines, can make you sleepy or dizzy, and increase your risk of falling.
3. Get your vision and hearing checked annually and eat a nutritious diet. Eye disease and normal aging can make it difficult to judge distances or see hazards. Studies have shown that even mild hearing loss can increase your risk for falls.
4. Talk to your family. Enlist their help to stay safe. Falls are not just an issue for older adults.
5. Keep your home safe. Complete the home modification checklist to identify common household hazards.
6. Review your medications with your doctor. Keep an updated list of your medications with you. Take your medication as prescribed. Report adverse reactions to your doctor.

Don't let falls get you down as you age. Physical therapy can also be a viable option if you are experiencing weakness, instability or struggle to be active and independent. Therapists evaluate patients with a variety of tests and provide appropriate individualized programs and guidance. Overlake Rehabilitation Services physical therapists can evaluate and establish individualized balance programs to help you prevent falls.