Falls are the number 1 issue for seniors because a fall can lead to many other issues, all of them quite serious. So, if you are a senior or are a caregiver to a senior, it’s important to understand what these issues are and what can be done to prevent falls and slips in the first place.

The Centre For Disease Control and Prevention out of the US has published an excellent pamphlet on fall prevention and has cited four basic ways to prevent falls. As well, this excellent checklist has ten questions which are quickly and easy to review, to start to understand your chances of falling and how to prevent it.

1.Speak up. Talk to your doctor or health care providers about falls and get them involved. Ask about your prescriptions and whether they can result in dizziness or possible falls.

2. Keep moving. Exercise is a critical piece of fall prevention. By staying strong, you lessen the chances of falling. Balance is also very important and doing balance exercises helps as well.

3. Get an eye exam. As people age, their vision deteriorates and this can result in balancing and vision issues which can lead to falls. Get an eye exam on a regular basis (yearly) and get your glass prescription updated.

4. Make your home safer. This means getting rid of the clutter and all the various tripping hazards. Install handrails in bathrooms and throughout the house. Eliminate step thresholds into rooms. Lots of things to do here and we can come and do a thorough check of your house to suggest many ideas.