Four Ways for Seniors to Prevent Falls

Every year, one in three people over the age of sixty will experience a fall. Ouch! So what are you doing to reduce your risk of falling? Here are four simple things you can do to help prevent falls.

1 - Visit Your Doctor

If you haven’t been to the doctor for a while, schedule a check-up and have him take a look at your medications. Some medications for allergies, blood pressure, and depression can negatively affect your balance.

2 - Do Exercises for Balance

Everybody knows you can train your muscles and heart, but did you know you could also train your balance? Balance exercises involve putting your feet into a position that challenges your stability.

This can include standing with one foot right in front of the other as if you were on a balance beam. Or you can try standing on one foot. Once your feet are set, just try to balance there for twenty seconds or so.

Always do your balance exercises next to something sturdy like the back of a couch or a countertop. Only use it if you need it. You can do balance exercises every day since they don’t take very long and aren’t very taxing.

3 - Eliminate Common Tripping Hazards in Your Home

Most falls happen in the home. Walk around your house and look for things that could cause you to trip. Loose carpeting, electric cords, and area rugs are all common hazards. Be sure to consider your bathroom, too.

4 - Strengthen Your Legs

Strong legs are a good defense against falling, and they also make daily life a whole lot easier. Your muscles tend to shrink and weaken as you age, but proper exercise can counteract this process. It doesn’t have to be a huge workout. Try marching in place. Walk around the block. Go up and down the stairs a few times. Work in your yard. Anything that uses your leg muscles will help them keep in shape.