Yes, falls can be prevented. These are some simple ideas for you to guard yourself against falling.
- Talk to Your Doctor freely expressing all your worries.
- Ask your doctor to evaluate your risk for falling, and get to learn from them specific steps you can easily follow.
- Ask your doctor to review your medicines to check if any of them might make you dizzy or sleepy. This should include prescription medicines and over-the counter medicines.
- Ask your doctor’s advice on taking vitamin D supplements with calcium.
- Do strength and balance exercises that can make your legs stronger and your balance better. Tai Chi is a good example of this kind of exercise.
- Have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year. Take care to change your eyeglasses for vision correction, if needed. You may want to get a pair of distance vision glasses just for your outdoor activities, such as walking, if you use at home bifocal or progressive lenses. Sometimes these types of lenses can make things seem closer or farther away than they really are.
- Get rid of things you could trip over.
- Add grab bars inside and outside your tub or shower and next to the toilet.
- Put railings on both sides of stairs.
- Add more powerful or greater number of electrical lights to make sure your home is brighter.
