A simple thing can change your life—like tripping on a rug or slipping on a wet floor. If you fall, you could break a bone, like thousands of older men and women do each year. A broken bone might not sound awful. But, for older people, a break can be the start of more serious problems.
Many things can cause a fall. Your eyesight, hearing, and reflexes might not be as sharp as they were when you were younger. Diabetes, heart disease, or problems with your thyroid, nerves, feet, or blood vessels can affect your balance. Some medicines can cause you to feel dizzy or sleepy, making you more likely to fall.
But don't let a fear of falling keep you from being active. Doing things like getting together with friends, gardening, walking, or going to the local senior center helps you stay healthy. The good news is that there are simple ways you can prevent most falls.
If you take care of your overall health, you may be able to lower your chances of falling. Most of the time, falls and accidents don't "just happen." Here are a few hints that will help you avoid falls and broken bones:
Always tell your doctor if you have fallen since your last checkup—even if you aren't hurt when you fall.
Weak BonesOsteoporosis is a disease that makes bones weak and more likely to break. Many people think osteoporosis is only a problem for women, but it can also affect older men. For people with osteoporosis, even a minor fall may be dangerous. Talk to your doctor about whether you have osteoporosis. |
There are many changes you can make to your home that will help you avoid falls and ensure your safety.
Your Own Medical AlarmThink about getting a home-monitoring system. Usually, you wear a button on a chain around your neck. If you fall or need emergency help, you push the button to alert the service. You can find local “medical alarm” services in your yellow pages. Most medical insurance companies and Medicare do not cover home-monitoring systems. Be sure to ask about costs. |
Many State and local governments have education and/or home modification programs to help older people prevent falls. Check with your local health department, senior affairs office, or area agency on aging to see if there is a program near you.
Here are some helpful resources:
Eldercare Locator
1-800-677-1116 (toll-free)
www.eldercare.gov
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4770 Buford Highway, NE
MS F-63
Atlanta, GA 30341-3717
1-800-232-4636 (toll-free)
1-888-232-6348 (TTY/toll-free)
www.cdc.gov/ncipc
National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modifications
University of Southern California
3715 McClintock Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191
1-213-740-1364
www.homemods.org
Rebuilding Together
1899 L Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20036
1-800-473-4229 (toll-free)
www.rebuildingtogether.org
Get a free copy of Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from the National Institute on Aging. This guide is part of the Go4Life exercise and physical activity campaign for older adults.
For more information on osteoporosis, home safety for people with Alzheimer's disease, or other resources on health and aging, contact:
National Institute on Aging
Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
1-800-222-2225 (toll-free)
1-800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)
www.nia.nih.gov
www.nia.nih.gov/espanol
To sign up for regular email alerts about new publications and other information from the NIA, go to www.nia.nih.gov/health.
Visit NIHSeniorHealth (www.nihseniorhealth.gov), a senior-friendly website from the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine. This website has health information for older adults. Special features make it simple to use. For example, you can click on a button to have the text read out loud or to make the type larger.
National Institute on Aging
National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
May 2009
Updated April 2011
Publication Date: April 2011
Page Last Updated: April 16, 2012