What do you do to prevent falls?

@wendy517

These are great suggestions. Thanks for posting.

These are excellent comments here. Just had to chime in as I recently did something dumb out of habit (too embarrassed to say) and fell over backward, totally preventable if I was considering limitations and really shouldn't been doing it at any age all along either. I'd say knowing and keeping to limits and practicing extra safety as we age is a key I remind myself. I don't want to fall now since it'll take forever if ever to heal and too many horror stories of decline following fall. Could've busted a skull and worse. Luckily just 2 bruised and split spots in my scalp but a clear cat scan. Must've hit a counter on the way down and blacked out until hitting the floor coming to. Also, my significant other is bad about plugging in cords across the floor to couch (no floor plugs), so I check nightly before lights out and have a few night lights to light the area just in case I forget. Pets are notorious for tripping people unfortunately. But I no longer have those. I'm known to balance on 1 leg at times and walk in wet rubbery shoes out gardening. Now I avoid it more or grab onto walls, towel racks or counters BEFORE, if at all doing risky moves. No more than a few short steps to a stool for me either, then, I still grab on or lean against something FIRST. We need handrails at ANY step even if it's just a few. Treadmills can be dangerous too, so I try to never let go of the hand grips or I can venture too far back & roll off. And yes, using the cell phone or reading anything while walking I've got to stop doing. Considering putting it in front of bed/mattress area or carpeting hard floors as I mature gracefully. For those that tend to get dizzy at times, it's important to space furniture within reach also. Lots of nightlights. I've even almost tripped wearing a maxi dress too long before. All these things to think on but worth avoiding the fall. Sometimes those of us with footdrop occasionally can trip too and proper shoes help. I need to ditch the flip-flops everywhere. Wish I could convince my parent to declutter, install handrails and fix those lights!

@moorethrpy You can get my article on Fall Prevention in the Western Peripheral Neuropathy Association Oct Newsletter.
https://www.pnhelp.org
This is a great organization promoting research and advocacy for those of us suffering from peripheral neuropathy.

Things I’m learning: Don’t rush or multitask…use handrails whenever there are stairs …take smaller steps…train yourself to be very mindful of moving around…don’t always look at the ground, so you can better assess what’s ahead…use non-slip socks indoors…..these are some of the things I and many others are teaching ourselves to do consciously…they do help… good luck !

Balance is HUGE. Learning starts with practice. Bad habits get replaced with new and mindful practice. No, balance will not be useful if you need to use the bathroom in the dark at 2 a.m. and you forgot to close a bottom cabinet/drawer open and you trip, break your neck, lay there alone for 24 hours until someone finds you (true story). But, if your habit is practicing balance exercises every day, 3 xs a day, I can quite confidentally say your chances of injuring yourself significantly are much better if you can immediately realign yourself once you start to fall and help yourself to bounce back quicker. True story, I was working cleaning clients home and fell from top of a 12foot ladder, hit the desk, and literally jumped back up with no harm. I attribute it to balance exercises. The other housekeeper was heard yelling as I thumped and the owners freaked, "don't worry! She's fine! She's a yoga teacher!" Lol.
Do take balance exercises seriously. I had a problem with cramping so doctor sent me to have pulmonary artery test done; that test confirmed I had no issies in arteries. So, I now have my 86 yo student of 25 years doing the test he gave me. For 3 minutes we stand next to a chair or counter and lift up heels onto toes, that's it! 3 minutes! Go at your own speed. Go quickly after months of practice. If you can do this SIMPLE exercise your leg arteries are good! More later but, do find ways to make balance a high prioity. Our newest endeavor, stand on one leg, nothing to hold on to (chair/counter in front) and see how long you can hold it without losing balance. No problem? Great!! Do it with eyes closed. Happy Balancing everyone! Enjoy!

My mom fell this week and broke her upper arm. I’m trying to figure out clothing for her since she can’t move her arm. It’s in a sling. Pullover shirts won’t work and I can’t envision how a button up would either. If anyone knows please message me or post a link for a thread about it. Thank you.

@celia16

Sorry to hear about your mom. When I broke my shoulder i used large sweaters. Put the un damaged arm through a sleeve and the arm in sling inside the sweater.

@mtblessee good but place a small towel to scoot on ! Makes it much better for your skin

When I was finally able to shower on my own last year after breaking my kneecap, I was terrified getting out of the tub (tub/shower combination) even though I had a grab bar. A solution was to bring in a sturdy dining room chair, back facing where I'd be stepping. Then I could use one hand for the grab bar and the other for balance using the top of the chair, which was a perfect height. And it could hold the towels.

They work! Also get a couple of suction handles that you can use at home (no such thing as too many handles) and you can take them on trips too.