Falls Prevention Series: Prevention

Posted on September 8, 2021

According to the American College of Physicians, falls are common among older adults. One in 3 adults aged 65 years or older and 1 in 2 adults aged 80 years or older fall each year. Some of those falls result in serious injuries that require hospitalization. Falls typically don’t have a single cause.

Multiple factors can lead to a fall, including age-related changes, chronic medical conditions, medications and environmental issues.

Falls can be prevented. Here are some actions you can take:

• Be sure to exercise—Balance problems or leg weakness can cause Do exercises to improve balance and strength so you can be more stable on your feet.
• Ask about your meds—Some medications can cause dizziness or vision problems. Your doctor can evaluate your risks for falling and check or adjust your
• Check your vision—Vision issues or improper glasses can cause falls. Visiting an eye doctor at least once a year to check your eyes and glasses may help you avoid some
• Make your home safe—Tripping hazards in your home can cause Ensure your home has good lighting. Install handrails on both sides of stairs and grab bars in the tub/shower. Use a non-slip tub mat. Remove throw rugs. Keep frequently used items within reach.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your fall risks and prevention. If you have fallen in the past, let your doctor know. There are things you and your doctor can adjust to prevent another fall.

In this month’s Falls Prevention Series, we are exploring vision impairment. Vision impairment and eyesight problems are common in adults over 65 years of age, and can include the following:

• Refractive errors are due to changes in the shape of the eye and its lens and can usually be corrected with proper eyeglasses or contact
• Cataracts cloud the lens of the eye and lead to loss of Cataract surgery removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial lens.
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is damage to the macula, the area of the eye that is responsible for detailed Some forms of macular degeneration can be treated with lasers or injections; other forms are not treatable.

Have Your Eyes Checked Annually

Because impaired vision more than doubles your risk of falling, it is highly recommended that you have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year (a dilated eye exam). Also, be sure to have your eyeglasses updated, if needed. If you have bifocal or progressive lenses, which may distort how close objects appear, you may want to get a pair of glasses with only your distance prescription to use for activities such as walking.

Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/STEADI_OlderAdultFactSheet-a.pdf, https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-151-1-200907070-00002, https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/resources/features/vision-loss-falls.html

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