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The necessary tips to be checked in order to prevent accidental slips and falls and to have a comfortable walking experience are discussed here. The National Safety Council’s Injury Facts 2012 Edition reported that in the U.S., falls are the leading unintentional injury responsible for over 8.7 million emergency room visits each year. Falls should be taken as a serious threat, especially in the case of older adults. Health issues, gait and balance problems, the effects of medication, poor eyesight and other such factors increase the incidence of slip and fall accidents among the elderly. In addition, there could also be environmental factors that put them at risk of falling. Prevention is the solution. Here are some useful tips that can help prevent slips and falls among older adults: - Regular Exercise and Proper Diet: Regular exercise and a healthy diet helps improve strength, balance, coordination and flexibility and reduce the chances of accidental falls.
- Check your vision: Vision impairment is a common problem among older people. Have your vision checked and ensure you wear proper glasses. Treat glare, fuzzy vision, and loss of depth or perception.
- Review of medications: The medications you take may have side effects and make you drowsy, increasing your risks of falling.
- Wear Proper Shoes Always wear fit and comfortable shoes with a good grip to avoid slips and trips while walking.
- Avoid climbing ladders alone: Don’t invite falls by climbing ladders to do work at heights, especially when you are alone. If you must, see that there is enough support from someone reliable holding the ladder down with a good grip.
- Home environmental checklist: Prepare a home safety check list to see that there are obstacles on your path in your living or working environment. See that the carpets have secure edges, that there are no slippery floors, and that there proper lighting in the areas you frequent. Also, install handrails on stairs for support.
- Avoid taking unwanted shortcuts: It is not recommended to take unwanted shortcuts that are not safe for walking, whether in your house or outside.
Enroll in a Comprehensive Slips/Falls Prevention Program Even when following all these tips, ask your primary care physician if you can enroll in a slip and fall prevention program at a professional health care center. Many centers offer comprehensive programs based on the guidelines of the American Geriatric Society. Typically lasting up to four weeks, the program would involve assessment and evaluations to identify the physiological and environmental factors that put you at risk of falling and gait analysis. Interventions with exercises and a balance program would then be provided to improve your strength, balance, step length, flexibility, walking speed, and cardiovascular fitness. Participating in such programs can improve your confidence and help you a more productive, active and independent life. HealthQuest a multi-specialty healthcare centre in Brooklyn, NY is dedicated to providing personalized Slips and Falls prevention program services to older adults and their families. Our Elderly Fall Prevention Program is specifically designed to improve strength, mobility and balance control in elderly adults.
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