Avoid Becoming a "Fall Statistic"

Begin a regular exercise program. Lack of exercise leads to muscle weakness and a lack of balance. These can increase the chance of falling. Exercises that improve balance and coordination, like Tai Chi, are the most helpful.

Make your home safer.

Keep walkways, bedsides and stairs clear of things you could trip over (papers, books, clothes, shoes, etc.).
Remove or tape down small throw rugs.
Keep often-used items in cabinets you can easily reach without a step stool.
Install grab bars in the bathtub, shower, and beside the toilet.
Use abrasive strips or non-slip bath mats in your bathtub and shower.
Increase the lighting in your home. Use higher watt bulbs where safe or add more lamps.
Install handrails along both sides of all stairways.
Wear shoes that have good support and have thin, non-slip soles. Avoid slippers without soles or thick, rubber-soled athletic shoes.

Have your doctor review your medications. Some medicines or combination of medicines can make you sleepy, disoriented, or dizzy; conditions that can lead to a fall. The use of over-the-counter drugs such as cold medications can interact with prescription drugs and may cause weakness, dizziness or confusion and increase your chances for a fall.

Have your eyes checked. Changes in eyesight and medical conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts may increase the danger of falling.

Making allowances for physical changes – decreased vision, longer reaction time, decreased physical activity, and decreased bone density – can help protect you from falls. Become pro-active in your lifestyle. Instead of thinking of an assistive device, such a cane or walker, as giving in to "old age," think of it as "insurance" against falls and injuries.