09/24/2025
September is fall prevention awareness month!!
Falls lead to half of all hospitalizations from traumatic brain injury. It affects all ages.
How can you prevent falls through lifestyle changes?
Stay physically active – Exercising and moving regularly strengthens your muscles and also helps to keep your body parts flexible, which will minimize the risk of both falling and being injured by a fall.
Get your sight and hearing regularly checked – Vision and hearing are essential in knowing what is going on around you. Any vision or hearing loss can greatly increase your risk of falling. Be sure to get your eyes and ears checked regularly by a healthcare professional.
Review the side effects of the medications that you take with your doctor – Some medications can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and other symptoms that increase your likelihood of falling.
Check your Vitamin D levels – A recent study found that a daily dose of vitamin D can reduce the risk of falls in older adults by 19%.
Wear appropriate footwear – Wearing shoes that are uncomfortable, don’t fit correctly, or that are not suitable for your environment greatly increases your chances of falling.
Evaluate your risk with a doctor – Some people are more prone to falling than others. Age, medication, and preexisting conditions are just some of the factors that can increase risk.
How can you prevent falls in the home?
Avoid uneven surfaces – Be aware of any places in your home where there is uneven flooring.
Install bars or railings – Adding supports to areas in your home where falls are common, such as stairs and bathtubs, can reduce the risk of falling and sustaining a brain injury.
Ensure you have adequate lighting – A simple way prevent falls in your home is to have ample lighting. Make sure that you have easily accessible light switches and bright light in all the rooms in your house.
Avoid using ladders and stepstools – Ladders and stepstools present opportunities for injury. If you are at particularly high risk of falling or can adapt a task, try to avoid using these items.
