Every 11 seconds, an elderly adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall. Every 19 minutes, an elderly adult dies from a fall. Falls are the leading cause of injuries for the elderly community and can greatly reduce their ability to remain independent. Take steps now to protect your health and reduce your fall risk.
Manage Meals, Meds, and Exercise
• Choose healthy meals and stay hydrated to prevent drops in blood pressure.
• Review medications with your doctor or pharmacist. Many drugs prescribed for seniors come with fall-risk warnings.
• Do exercises that will improve your strength and balance such as Tai Chi or Yoga.
Make Your Home Safer
• Add grab bars outside the shower or tub and near the toilet.
• Place non-slip mats in the bathtub and on the shower floor.
• Keep traffic areas clear by removing shoes, clothing, books, electrical cords, or other items you may trip over.
• Make sure bathrooms, hallways, and stairs are well lit.
• Replace throw rugs with non-slip rugs. Use non-skid pads under rugs to add stability.
• Install handrails along both sides of hallways and stairs.
• Use risers to elevate beds, chairs, and sofas.
• Rearrange cabinets and drawers so items used most often are within easy reach.
• Wear sturdy shoes with non-slip soles both inside and outside your home.
Have Your Eyes Checked
• See your eye doctor at least once a year, and update your eye glasses, if needed.
橙縣消防局指出，每 11 秒就有一名老人因跌倒而在急診室接受治療，每19分鐘就有一名老年人因跌倒而死亡。跌倒是老年人口受傷的主要原因，會大大降低他們保持獨立的能力。年長人士和家人們，請立即採取措施保護您的健康，從而降低跌倒風險。
在管理膳食、藥物和鍛煉方面：
• 選擇健康膳食並保持水分以防止血壓下降。
• 與您的醫生或藥劑師一起檢查藥物。許多為老年人開的藥都帶有跌倒風險警告。
• 做一些可以提高你的力量和平衡的運動，比如太極拳或瑜伽。
如何讓您的家更安全：
• 在淋浴間或浴缸外以及馬桶附近添加扶手。
• 在浴缸和淋浴地板上放置防滑墊。
• 在平日走動範圍中，確保沒有鞋子、衣服、書籍、電線或其他可能絆倒的物品，保持動綫上暢通。
• 確保浴室、走廊和樓梯光線充足。
• 單塊地毯要用防滑地毯，取代會滑動的地毯，並在地毯下使用防滑墊以增加穩定性。
• 沿走廊和樓梯兩側安裝扶手。
• 使用某些設備來抬高床、椅子和沙發。
• 重新佈置櫥櫃和抽屜，使最常用的物品觸手可及。
• 在家內外都穿著穩定的防滑鞋底。
務必定期檢查眼睛：
• 至少每年看一次眼科醫生，並在需要時更新需要的眼鏡度數。