Dont Fall For It!

Did you know that every year, one out of every four older Americans falls?

People over 65 are most likely to get hurt or die from a fall. Those numbers are twice as high for seniors who have trouble seeing or are blind. This is because not being able to see well makes it hard to understand the environment and other things that can cause a person to fall.

But low vision isn't the only reason why people trip and fall. Your overall body and the things you do every day also play a role. Knowing how and why you might fall is half the battle.

Here are some common reasons why people fall:

• Balance and walking: As you get older, you lose coordination, flexibility, and balance. This is usually caused by being inactive, which makes it easier to fall.
  
• Vision: As an eye age, less light reaches the retina, making it harder to see sharp edges, trip hazards, and other obstacles.
  
• Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines can make you feel dizzy, dry out your body, or interact with each other in ways that can cause you to fall.
  
• Environment: You can reduce some risks by making changes to your apartments, such as getting rid of all rugs, bright lights, and obstacles in the way.
  
• Chronic conditions: like diabetes, a stroke, or arthritis, often make people more likely to fall because they lose function, don't move around much, feel sad, or hurt, or have to take a lot of medications.
  

The healthcare team at Bridgeway Senior Healthcare is dedicated to helping residents stay healthy and independent for as long as possible and lower their risk of falling. At the Larsen Pavilion, the rehabilitation and physical therapy services provide the best care, whether it's for a week or two to recover from an accident-related injury or surgery or for a long-term stay.

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