Hello again,

As we mentioned in our last email, we are on a mission to educate our community on fall prevention to help feel people feel more confident, and maybe even save a life. Bad falls are a constant worry for seniors and others who have physical challenges, and those worries aren’t unfounded.

One in four Americans ages 65 and above – 29% of seniors – fall each year. Although we hope they’ll get right back up, many cannot. They might sustain bumps and bruises, strains and sprains, and broken bones and lasting trauma.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• The risk of falling increases proportionately with age.

• Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal

  trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.

• Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall, and

  every 19 minutes an older adult dies from a fall. Here is the good news...

  Falls are preventable. If you or someone you know suffers from imbalance, keep in mind that early intervention is key. Falling is not an inevitable result of aging, and there are steps you can take to improve your balance and decrease chances of falling.

  There is hope! 

  • Assess the home environment: Keep floors, hallways, and stairs free of clutter, and ensure that indoor and outdoor walkways are well-lit. Consider adding grab bars in the shower or bathtub, as well as handrails on both sides of staircases. Make sure sidewalks have no cracks that are potential trip hazards and that steps are not too steep.
  • Prioritize regular exercise: Minimal impact exercises can help build stability, strength, and flexibility, abilities that often decline as individuals age.
  • Choose the right footwear: Wear shoes with slip-resistant soles and adequate heel support. Limit movement to even surfaces; thick grass, nature trails, throw rugs, and sand each present a potential trip hazard.
  • Examine prescription labels: Understand potential side effects with medications, which can cause dizziness, headaches, nausea or sleepiness.
  • Visit the doctor: Annual appointments with a primary care physician are crucial, but so too are yearly visits to an optometrist and otolaryngologist. Your eyes and ears are two very important keys to stability as you age.

  Love Your Life!

  FYZICAL - Indialantic https://www.fyzical.com/indialantic/index.html

  P.S. Do you have questions about this right now? Give us a call at 321-372-3090. We are offering free fall risk assessments and can help ease your mind.