Fall Prevention

What to Do and Safety

Reduce Risk

A Fall Happens

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REDUCE FALL RISKS

Reduce Fall Risks

If you know a person is at risk for a fall, take these steps to lessen their risk:

Review Medicines

When the person you care for is on more than 6 medicines, including over-the-counter medicines, review the list of medicines with their doctor or pharmacist. It is best to have one doctor in charge of the person’s medical condition and one pharmacy to fill prescriptions. Be sure the doctor also knows about any medicines ordered by a specialist. Be alert if you care for an older adult who gets a prescription changed.

Regular Exercise

Encourage the person you care for to exercise regularly, even if it is simply walking several times a day. Decreased activity can make a person more weak and cause him to lose muscle mass. Strength training using low impact weights is also very useful. Regular exercise improves balance and coordination. Older adults benefit from supervised exercise classes. Tai Chi is one exercise that helps improve balance in older adults. Tai Chi is one form of martial art. It is a mind-body practice sometimes called “moving meditation”— persons move their bodies slowly, gently, and with awareness, while breathing deeply. During Tai Chi exercise the body is in constant motion, and good posture is very important.

Maintain Clear Vision

Any person who is at risk for falling and who wears glasses or contacts should take steps to be sure they can see clearly when walking and moving about.

  • Clean the person’s glasses routinely before he or she gets up to walk.
  • Remove any glare in the home, by using sheer curtains or shades across windows. Nongloss or satin finishes on walls and countertops also reduce glare.
  • Have the person wear sunglasses when walking outside.

Regular Toileting



  • If a person goes to the bathroom often, especially at night, there is an increased risk for falling.
  • If a person needs help to get to the bathroom, ask regularly (every hour or two) during the day if they need to go.
  • If the person takes a diuretic medicine (“water pill”), give it in the morning, not at night.
  • Be sure the person has a night light or can easily reach a light switch from the bed. Place a night light in the bathroom, too. Turning on a bright light after coming from a dark room can be blinding.

Safe use of Canes, Crutches and Walkers

Unless persons use their cane, set of crutches, or walker correctly, they can trip, tip over, and lose balance and fall. These assist devices should always be kept in working order. A person should only use the type of device prescribed by their doctor. Do not let them use someone else’s device. See our lesson on Correct Use of Walkers for more safety tips.

Standing and Sitting Up

If a person feels dizzy when sitting or standing up, they are at risk for falling if they are not careful to first let the dizziness pass. Always ask a person if he or she feels dizzy when you first help them stand or sit up after lying down. Have the person sit on the side of the bed and dangle their feet before standing.

Usually the dizziness will go away and it will be safe to move about. However, if the dizziness lasts, do not let the person get up. Help him or her return to bed or sit in a chair. For more tips see our lesson on Moving Safely in the Home.

WHEN A PERSON FALLS

Most falls do not involve injuries or the injuries are minor and do not require a trip to the emergency room. Yet proper care is needed.

  • If a person falls, do not try to move him or her. Wait and check to see if the person is hurt. Ask the person to tell you if he or she feels hurt and, if so, where. Have the person lie still for a few minutes before trying to move him or her.
  • Then help the person to stand (See our lesson on Moving Safely in in the Home).
  • If a person falls and can’t remember falling, he or she likely fainted. Fainting can be due to many different problems. Report this to the person’s doctor immediately.

Call 911 if the person:

  • Hit their head and is unconscious or difficult to awaken
  • Has a hard time breathing
  • Is bleeding from the head or face
  • Has a severe headache
  • Has slurred speech
  • Becomes confused about where he or she is
  • Has repeated vomiting
  • Has a seizure (sudden uncontrollable muscle jerking)
  • Is unable to move or stand without having severe pain in their legs or lower body

 If there is any bleeding from a scrape or gash:

Take a clean cloth or gauze bandage and apply gentle pressure for 20 minutes. Do not release the pressure. If the blood spurts or flows after holding pressure, Call 911.

SAFETY TIPS

Fall prevention is all about safety. Here is a summary of key points to remember:

  • Have the person’s doctor, nurse, or pharmacist review their medicines to reduce any drug side effects and interactions
  • Have their eyes checked by an eye doctor each year
  • Improve the lighting in the home
  • Keep any assist device, such as a cane, crutches, or walker in good repair and be sure the person uses the device correctly
  • Have the person get up slowly from a lying or a sitting position before trying to walk
  • Have the person wear shoes inside and outside the house
  • Do not let the person wear socks, smooth bottom slippers or go barefoot
  • Have the person exercise regularly. Tai Chi is a good exercise for increasing strength and improving balance.
  • Follow steps in the Show Me How section for making rooms in the home safe
SHOW ME HOW

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