Falls Are Preventable: Take Action to Reduce Your Risk

Falls are common, especially as we get older, but they are not an inevitable part of aging. Small changes can make a big difference in helping you stay healthy, active, and independent.

During Falls Prevention Awareness Month, Family Service Rochester and the Olmsted County Falls Prevention Coalition are encouraging older adults, families, and caregivers to learn about fall risks and take practical steps to reduce them.

Falls can cause broken bones, head injuries, and other serious health problems. A fall can also affect confidence and independence. Some people become less active after a fall because they are afraid of falling again. Over time, less activity can lead to reduced strength, mobility, and social connection.

The good news is that many fall risks can be reduced.

Stay active. Regular physical activity can improve strength, balance, flexibility, and mobility. Walking, strength training, tai chi, yoga, swimming, and other activities can all help. Choose activities that fit your abilities and talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions about what is appropriate for you.

Talk with your healthcare provider. Health conditions and medications can sometimes affect balance or cause dizziness, drowsiness, or weakness. Ask your provider or pharmacist to review your medications and discuss other factors that may increase your risk of falling.

Take care of your vision. Regular eye exams can help identify changes in vision that may make it harder to see obstacles, stairs, or changes in floor surfaces.

Make your home safer. Many falls happen at home, and relatively simple changes can reduce hazards. Remove loose rugs and clutter from walkways. Improve lighting in hallways, stairways, and bathrooms. Keep electrical cords out of walking paths. Consider grab bars near toilets and showers and nonslip surfaces in tubs and showers.

If you are not sure where to start, the Olmsted County Falls Prevention Coalition offers free home safety visits for Olmsted County residents.

Trained volunteers schedule a time to meet with you in your home and complete a safety visit. They look for possible fall risks and provide recommendations and resources that can help make your home safer, reduce your risk of falling, and support independent living.

A home safety visit can be useful even if you have never fallen. Preventing a fall before it happens is much easier than recovering from an injury afterward.

It is also important to pay attention to changes in your balance or mobility. If you have fallen recently, experienced several near-falls, feel unsteady when walking, or have become afraid of falling, talk with a healthcare professional. There may be steps you can take to address the underlying cause.

Falls prevention works best when we look at the whole picture: our health, medications, vision, physical activity, and the environments where we live.

Family Service Rochester works with older adults and families throughout our community to support independence, safety, and quality of life. Connecting people with practical resources, including falls prevention services, is one way we can help people remain safely in the homes and communities they know.

You can also find helpful falls prevention information through the National Council on Aging, including its Falls Free CheckUp, home safety resources, medication tools, and other guidance.

To learn more about Falls Prevention Awareness Month, visit acl.gov/falls-prevention-month.

Ready to take the next step? If you or someone you know lives in Olmsted County, contact Family Service Rochester to learn more about the free Olmsted County Falls Prevention Coalition home safety visit and other resources that can help you stay safe, active, and independent. Contact FSR at 507-287-2010