How do I protect myself from falling?

There are lots of things you can do to improve your stability and mobility, and numerous ways to make your surroundings safer as well.

• Staying physically active will help keep your joints, tendons and ligaments flexible – and increase your strength, too. Even mild activities like walking and climbing stairs will provide these benefits.
• It’s a good idea to have your eyes and hearing tested often. Even small changes can put you at risk for falling. If you need glasses and/or a hearing aid, make sure you wear them.
  
• Use a cane, walking stick or walker, if prescribed by a health professional, to help you feel stable. This is especially important on unfamiliar, uneven or slippery surfaces. Wearing rubber-soled, low-heeled, supportive shoes is a must.
  
• Get enough sleep, find out about the side effects of any medications you take and limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
  

All these things will help protect you against falling; the other factor is your home.

• Make sure there are well-fastened handrails on both sides of all stairs from top to bottom and that your stairwells are well lit.
  
• In the bathroom, mount grab bars near toilets and on both the inside and outside of your tub or shower.
  

Taking these precautions, in addition to keeping hallways and paths tidy and making sure carpets and rugs are secured with the appropriate fasteners or non-skid strips, will make you much safer at home.

You’ll also find more detailed information in the Health Topics section about Falls and Difficulty Walking. And of course, if you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us.