Most of us either know someone who has fallen or have had personal experiences. While people of all ages have falls, the risk factors for falls do increase with age. There can be physical, emotional, social, and financial consequences as a result of fall-related injuries. It can change how and where a person lives. Contrary to what many people may believe, falls are not an inevitable part of growing older.
Many falls are preventable.
There are typically multiple factors which contribute to a slip, trip, fall, or near-fall. Choose to develop a two-part strategy to reduce your risks for falls. In this article, environmental improvements will be emphasized, while other strategies are listed but not described in detail. Identify your own external and internal risk factors. Examples of external risk factors are environmental hazards like throw rugs, slick or uneven floor surfaces, poor lighting, unstable furniture, lack of grab bars or railings, and risky weather conditions.