At Palm Medical Centers, we have been bringing genuine kindness to senior primary care for more than a decade. As a part of our mission, we make safety for seniors one of our top priorities, which is why we place an emphasis on fall prevention.
Every year, millions of Americans older than the age of 65 experience falls, resulting in more than 800,000 emergency room visits and with 1 in 5 of the falls resulting in severe injuries, including broken hips, other bone fractures, or head trauma. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury and death in this age group, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The more you know about fall prevention, the better you can protect yourself or a loved one from suffering from a serious physical mishap.
Why Seniors Are More Prone to Falling
The main reason why seniors are more susceptible to falls is that your muscles can become weaker, your bones more brittle, and your reaction time slower as you age. Also, healing can take longer. If you have an existing health condition – such as diabetes, heart disease, or a problem with your feet or nerves that affects your balance – it can lead to a fall.
However, there are other risks factors besides lower-body weakness that can make you more prone to falling, such as poor vision, hearing loss, a vitamin D deficiency, taking multiple medications (e.g., tranquilizers, sedatives, or antidepressants), and certain health conditions, including hypertension and Parkinson’s disease.
Other hazards, including foot pain or wearing poor footwear, and household dangers, such as slippery bathtubs or floors, broken or uneven steps, throw rugs, or clutter, can cause you to trip. When outdoors, ice, mud, uneven walkways, and sidewalk cracks are all potential threats.
Recovering from a fall can be a long and complicated process, particularly in the case of a hip fracture – which can be extremely painful and requires major surgery and intensive physical therapy – or brain hemorrhaging from head trauma. Not to mention that other health conditions, such as osteoporosis or muscular atrophy, can impede your recovery.
How to Reduce Your Fall Risk
The good news is that you can reduce your overall fall risk both at home and outdoors with some simple strategies:
- Exercise regularly and walk to maintain your lower-body strength and balance. Consider strength training to build muscle in your legs, abdomen, and back and improve stability, while other exercise options like yoga or tai chi can help improve your balance.
- Make your home a safer environment. Remove any clutter and store often-used items within easy reach, so you don’t have to climb on a chair or a stepladder to get them. Improve lighting, avoid using throw rugs and mats, and instead place nonskid mats in the bathtub tub and on the floor. Arrange your furniture, so you have plenty of walking space. Also, add grab bars in your bath and shower, and make sure any staircases are equipped with handrails.
- Have your vision and hearing checked annually. Stay up to date with glasses or contact lenses and, if you wear bifocals or progressive lenses, get glasses with distance correction for outdoor activities.
- Wear appropriate footwear. Opt for sturdy, nonslip shoes that fit well and have a sole with a firm grip. Avoid heels, slick soles, and shoes with “nubs” on the sole. When relaxing at home, wear slippers that have rubber soles that don’t slip.
Fall Prevention for Seniors in Miami, Florida
At Palm Medical Centers, we not only offer high-quality, value-based primary healthcare services that can help keep you healthy as you age, but we also provide preventive care to keep you safe and ensure you live your best possible life. Our board-certified primary care physicians are highly trained experts who listen to patients and utilize the latest advances in modern medicine to diagnose, treat, and support them.
We are currently providing services to more than 35,000 patients and have multiple locations through Florida within three miles of your home, where we offer specialized senior care that includes:
- In-house labs
- Medicare same-day appointments, walk-ins, and minimal to no-wait times
- Specialist care coordination
- Transportation assistance
- 24-hour, 7 days a week access to an urgent line and care team
To book an appointment at the Palm Medical Centers location nearest to you, call us at (833)500-PALM (7256) or send us a message now. We accept most Medicare Advantage plans and, if this is your first visit, you’ll receive a $15 gift card as a new patient. So, contact us today!
