​Summer, Winter, Spring… and Falls | Best Senior Living in Salina, KS

 According to The National Institute on Aging, more than one in three people age 65 years old older falls each year. Studies show that if a person falls once, they are even more likely to fall again. Taking a tumble is not just ungraceful or embarrassing, it can result in broken bones, head injuries, hospital stays or permanent disability.
 
Falls are not inevitable, even with aging. Here are some ways to minimize the likelihood of falling.

• Wear the right clothes. Sturdy, comfortable shoes with non-skid soles are the place to start, but also check the wardrobe for sleeves or hems easily caught on doors or chair backs. House slippers are sometimes just that: slippery!

 

• Speak with your health care provider about the medications they have prescribed. Do any of them cause dizziness or confusion? Knowing the side effects can help with awareness of falling possibilities. The doctor might also prescribe some physical therapy sessions to help with balance and strength.

 

• Eat right. Getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D will help strengthen bones and minimize damage if you do fall. Limit alcohol intake. Weight-bearing exercise, like walking or lifting light weights also help slow down osteoporosis, a bone weakness.

 

• Be careful around pets. Pets, especially small ones, like to stay close! But underfoot, they are just as much of a hazard as a non-stick rug. Keep an eye on Fluffy or Fido when moving about.

 

• Don't climb. There are wonderful "reach stick" tools designed to help get to high shelves or grab something off the floor. Climbing up on a stepladder or standing on a chair to see into to the upper cabinets is just asking for trouble. Better to ask someone else for a little help.

 
Being independent is everyone's goal, and one way to keep this a reality is to avoid falls.
 
Charlene Frazier 
Community Coordinator, Residence 600
600 E. Elm, Salina KS 67401
785-822-1300
residentservices.600@gmail.com