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Fall Prevention Strategies

Posted on by Bridgette

For many Australians, a fall is a major concern when it comes to maintaining good health, especially for those with chronic health conditions.  Not only can those at risk suffer serious injury, but a fall can impact an individual’s confidence in their mobility and independence. That’s why it’s important to have fall prevention strategies in place to minimise the risk of injury and enhance daily safety.

We’ve listed our top tips to implement a fall prevention strategy that keeps you safe.

Prepare Your Home

Your home environment plays an important role in your safety. By making just a few home modifications, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling in your home.

  • Remove fall hazards: Loose rugs, clutter and uneven flooring contribute to most falls in the home. By ensuring your home is free of these hazards, you will be able to move around more safely.
  • Ensure the home is well-lit: Better lighting will allow you to navigate your home better, especially hallways and stairways. Being able to clearly see where you’re stepping will help minimise your fall risk.
  • Install handrails and grab bars: An extra support for yourself in bathrooms and staircases by installing these modifications in your home.

Stay Physically Active

Maintaining your strength and balance to the best of your ability will help you reduce your risk of falling. Focus on performing exercises that build core and leg strength, if possible, as well as those that enhance balance. If you are unable to perform these exercises, just getting about and moving daily will still make a huge difference in maintaining your mobility.

Wear Supportive Footwear

While it might seem obvious, often footwear is overlooked when it comes to fall prevention. It’s important to wear shoes that are supportive and correctly fitted to minimise your risk of falling.

Investing in custom foot supports will also help improve balance and maintain mobility.

Monitor Health Conditions

Chronic health conditions can also become a factor in your risk of falling, so it’s important to schedule regular check-ups. Ensure you receive regular eye and hearing tests, as poor vision or hearing loss can affect your mobility and balance. Properly managing your health and staying aware of your condition’s current state will allow you to take any necessary precautions.

Use Assistive Devices

When necessary, don’t be shy to use devices such as canes or walkers for safety. These devices are designed to keep you safe and on your feet. They can also greatly enhance your mobility and balance.

Wearing a monitored personal alarm is also a great way to maintain your independence, as these devices offer peace of mind to the user, and their family or carer. Monitored alarms are connected to emergency responders 24/7, meaning help is just a button press away at all times.

Conclusion

Most falls are preventable, and by implementing the above tips into your lifestyle, you will be able to improve your independence and minimise the risk of falling. Although we must note that following these tips won’t eliminate the risk entirely, you will be able to enjoy a greater sense of safety and confidence knowing you have taken safe precautions and strategies to protect yourself in your day-to-day activities.

For additional peace of mind, we recommend using a monitored health alarm, so that you can be protected anytime, anywhere. PERSL members offer a range of monitored personal alarms to suit your lifestyle and budget, all of which meet the highest standards in safety and the industry.