Get Off on the Right Foot According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults 65 and older fall each year. So whether you're taking out the trash or just staying inside, it's important to make sure you get off on the right foot. The following fall prevention tips can help reduce your risk. Steps You Can Take 1. Begin and maintain a regular exercise program. Exercise increases strength. Exercises that improve balance and coordination are best (Tai Chi). Ask your doctor about the best type of exercise program for you. 2. Make your home safer. About half of all falls happen at home. To make your home safer:
3. Have your health care provider review your medicine. Have your doctor or pharmacist review all the medicine you take. Let your doctor know if a medicine is making you feel dizzy or making you lose your balance. 4. Have your vision checked by an eye doctor every year . 5. Have your hearing checked every two years or more often as needed. 6. See your doctor if you have foot pain or if you feel dizzy, weak, unsteady, confused or if you fall. 7. If your doctor requests you use a cane or walker, learn how to use it and then use it all the time. 8. When you get up from bed, sit on the side of the bed for a minute before you stand up. This will give your blood pressure time to adjust, and you will feel less dizzy. 9. If you need to go to the bathroom often at night, consider using a bedside commode. 10. Limit your alcohol intake to two drinks or less a day. For more information... Fall prevention Check for Safety: A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults
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