In the glut of coverage of this week’s presidential inauguration came a report that TV news icon Barbara Walters was hospitalized after tripping and tumbling down a flight of stairs while attending inaugural festivities in Washington, D.C. The 83-year-old Walters suffered a cut to her forehead, but seems to have made a quick recovery.
While most of us probably don’t do it at fancy parties hosted by foreign ambassadors, we’re all at risk of injury or death from falling down, no matter how old or how young. We all have slipped on a patch of ice while taking out the trash or lost our footing hauling too many grocery bags up the stairs. But Walters’ spill reminds us that older adults are especially vulnerable to being injured in a fall.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that one in three Americans over age 65 annually suffer an accidental fall, and that 20 to 30 percent of those who fall suffer a serious injury. Risk factors that lead to falls include advancing age, decreased strength and activity, poor balance, impaired vision, osteoporosis, dementia, the impact of multiple medications, and illnesses.
There are simple things you can do to minimize the risk of at-home falls for yourself or the older loved ones in your life, and the CDC offers some common sense, easy tips to minimize the likelihood of falling:
- Exercise regularly. Exercise builds strength and improves balance and coordination.
- Manage your medications. Take your medicine in the exact amount and at the time your doctor prescribes, and regularly review your prescriptions with your physician.
- Check your vision. Poor vision increases your chances of falling. See an eye specialist once a year.
- Install handrails. Make sure you have easy-to-grip handrails on both sides of the whole staircase and in your bathroom.
Other commonsense tips include:
- Install a night light between the bedroom and bathroom.
- Make sure stairways are well lit from both top and bottom.
- Take your time. Being rushed or distracted greatly increases your chance of falling. Get your balance when first standing up.
- Keep stairs and walkways clear of clutter and phone and electrical cords.
For those looking to make more comprehensive safety modifications to prevent falls, the AARP posted this handy checklist of tips and suggestions that will make your entire home safer, inside and out.
If you do injure yourself in a fall, remember that you can seek treatment at an urgent care center.
Until next time, please Stay Well!