During winter months, most people tend to spend more time in their homes to keep warm. And with 54.9 percent of all falls happening in home settings in Ector County during 2017, falls are definitely a concern during this time of year.
Medical Center Hospital received over 475 patients ranging in ages and causes. Although falls are injuries that can happen to people of all ages, it is more prevalent for the older age groups. Over 76 percent of fall injuries happen to people over 56 years of age. Over half (52.2 percent) of those falls are from “same-level falls”. That being said, there are specific preventative measures that can be taken to help prevent falls within your home for yourself and those you care about.
Clutter
For starters, make sure that your home is free of clutter, especially clutter that may build up on the floor. Clutter on the floor can spill over into passage ways through your home, creating a trip hazard.
Cords
Remove any extension cords, telephone lines or other trip hazards from walking paths. This will greatly decrease probability of a fall in your home.
Lighting
Purchase night lights to place throughout your home. Lighting your path will help you see objects in your way, preventing a tumble or those pesky stubbed toes. This will help for those midnight trips to the kitchen for a snack or a quick restroom visit.
Non-Slip Socks
For homes that have little or no carpet, invest in non-slip socks. These socks will not only keep your feet warm, but give you some grip on those sometimes slippery floors.
Rugs
If you have rugs in your home, make sure they have non-slip material on the back to prevent the rug being swept out from under you.
What role does your health play with fall prevention?
A person’s health plays a major role in fall prevention. Make an appointment with your doctor to talk about prescription or over-the-counter medications that you are taking. You want to make sure there are not any drug interactions that could cause side effects such as dizziness.
Talk to your doctor about other issues that could increase your risk of falling. For example, joint pain, shortness of breath upon exertion or numbness in your feet or legs can all create fall risks. Your doctor may perform an evaluation on muscle strength, balance and walking patterns to determine your fall risk.
Lifestyle Changes
After completing these few projects, look at other ways to prevents falls in your life. Several great suggestions include wearing well-fitted shoes, exercising to increase muscle strength and evaluating if you are in need of any assistive devices such as grab bars in the shower or hand rails on stairs.
According to the Texas Falls Prevention Coalition, “tens of thousands of Texans suffer falls every year, resulting in millions of dollars in healthcare costs.” So, it is definitely worth taking some time and a little bit of money to implement a fall prevention plan for your life. For more information and tips for fall prevention, visit www.fallsfreetexas.org.