The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US do a lot of work with older adults.  It’s important to know the facts about slips and falls and how they can affect your quality of life. 

This article published on their website provides a great deal of information about the statistics on falls and what we can do about them.  Some of the key points include:

*** One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury.  Even if they do not get injured, falls result in a fear of falling which leads to people cutting down on their activities and enjoying life less.

*** Most falls are caused by a combination of risk factors such as lower body weakness, vision problems and home hazards.

*** Doing strength and balance exercises, having your vision checked and making your home safer are the primary ways to avoid falls.