Be well: Prevent dangerous falls among older adults by taking key steps

More than one out of four older people experience a fall each year — and three million of them are treated in the emergency room for their injuries, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dangerous falls can be prevented by following safety protocols. 

Christynne Helfrich, PT, a physical therapist commercial consultant for Hinge Health in Illinois, shared some expert tips with Fox News Digital.

Be physically active every day

Going for daily walks or engaging in other low-impact physical activities can help to strengthen muscles, keep joints flexible and maintain overall endurance, Helfrich said. 

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“By finding ways to stay physically active each day, older adults can greatly improve their ability to live independently and with full function while decreasing their risk of falling,” she said. 

Finding an activity that you enjoy — whether it’s swimming, yoga or Tai Chai — is the key to staying engaged and making it a daily habit, Helfrich added.

Make necessary home modifications

Sixty percent of falls happen inside the home, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA) — which highlights the importance of making homes as safe as possible for older people.

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“Using brighter lighting and removing clutter on the floor will help keep you on your feet,” Helfrich said. 

“It can also be helpful to add grab bars in the bathroom, where there are slippery surfaces that can increase the risk of falling.”

Other tips include removing rugs that could pose tripping hazards, adding railings to staircases and installing ramps as needed.

Talk with your doctor

Less than half of older adults who experience a fall don’t tell their doctors about it, the CDC reports — but discussing fall prevention with health care providers can be life-saving, Helfrich said.

“Your doctor can refer you to physical therapy or a local fall prevention program,” she told Fox News Digital. 

She said health care providers “can also review your current medications to determine whether [these] might cause a loss of balance as a side effect.”

The CDC also recommends asking a health care provider about taking vitamin D supplements, as some studies have found they can help reduce falling risk. 

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Staying up to date on eye exams is also critical, Helfrich added, since vision is critical in determining where the body is in the environment and helping with orientation. 

Get up slowly

Standing up too quickly can result in a phenomenon called ortostatic hypotension, which is when blood pressure drops too quickly and causes dizziness. 

“As you age, blood pressure changes can cause you to feel dizzy if you move positions too quickly, which can increase your risk of falling,” Helfrich said. 

“Take your time when getting out of bed or out of your chair to prevent this from happening,” she said.

Stay well-rested

Older adults are more prone to experiencing fatigue, which can make them more susceptible to falling, multiple studies have shown.

“Making sure you get enough sleep at night is really important in helping your body recover from the previous day,” Helfrich said.

To read more pieces in Fox News Digital’s “Be Well” series, click here.