Growing older is great for so many different reasons, but there are some challenges that come along with this. As people age, their risk of falling increases, and this can lead to serious injury. Are you worried about falling and getting hurt? Do you have an older relative you care for, and you want to minimise the chances of them taking a tumble? If so, here is some information you will find quite helpful.
Increase Physical Activity
You might believe that moving around more will increase the risk of falling, but this is not necessarily the case. One thing you should keep in mind is the fact that some elderly people start to lose strength when they are idle for long periods. This is why it is essential to exercise and keep the body fit. Being more active means that one can improve muscle strength, keep themselves flexible and reduce the chances of muscle loss occurring.
Get Your Eyes Checked
One reason that falls happen more often with older people is that they often have issues with their eyesight. If you are experiencing blind spots, depth perception issues or some other eye problem, it can have a negative impact on your stability when walking. Make sure that you visit an eye doctor regularly, even if you feel like your sight is perfectly fine.
Purchase Mobility Aids
There are mobility aids available that can assist the elderly and help prevent falls. You should certainly consider these if you want to avoid falls. There are walkers, canes and other devices that are widely available to those who need them. Make sure that you buy items from a company that guarantees the quality of their products. The last thing you want is to spend money on something that will not offer the assistance needed.
Fall Proof The Bathroom
One place where many seniors have accidents is in the bathroom. This is especially dangerous since most bathrooms have toilets, sinks and bathtubs made of ceramic and other hard materials. Make sure that there are rugs and mats on the floor of the room as this will help reduce the amount of water that ends up on the floor. You should also add non-slip mats, grab bars and shower chairs to minimise the chances of falling while taking care of hygiene.
Slow Down
This may seem like common sense, yet so many people stumble because they are moving much faster than necessary. Even if your time is limited, it is vital that you pace yourself. It is so easy to have a misstep when rushing, so relax a bit. While this means it may take you a little longer to get things done, it is not likely you will fall in the process.
Keep in mind that this information applies to those who walk with and without mobility aids. Just because you have a walker or some other device, this does not mean that you should feel free to speed your way around. Again, you may need to allow more time for the daily activities you enjoy, but you will reduce your chances of falling down and sustaining some kind of injury.
Getting older can be stressful in many ways, but this does not mean that you should worry about being able to live an active life. You can continue doing all of the things you love, but being careful is a priority right now. As long as you keep all of this advice in mind moving forward, you should be able to avoid falling and worrying about being seriously hurt as a result.
If you are looking for independent daily living aids, call Get About Mobility today on 1300 168 902 or leave an enquiry and we will get back to you as soon as possible.