Barbara D. Thiele — Take Proactive Steps to Prevent Falls and Injuries
Assess and address your risk factors, then adopt preventative measures to improve the safety of your home.
This subject found its way into my thinking very dramatically and just recently when a family member had a fall resulting in her untimely death at age 55 years. Truly, we do not expect this sort of thing to happen so we overlook the possibility. We all need to look around our homes and see what we might do to make them safer. Even the accumulation of leaves in the yard or on our sidewalks around the house, can be a real fall hazard! This is especially true after they become rain soaked.
Grandma and Grandpa are most at risk. In 2014 the CDC reported 7 million injuries, and 29 million falls among adults 65 and older. If you have had a fall in the past twelve months be sure you report it to your primary care doctor and ask for a review of your medications, check your balance to see if you are having any episodes of dizziness or light-headedness. Poor vision can also be a problem, or perhaps the back porch stairs are not well lighted, or indoor lightening may need a higher watt bulb. Sometimes it’s a simple thing to correct.
I’ve noticed among my friends that they sometimes fail to get the proper exercise every day. It may begin with a cold or flu that weakens them. Then they neglect to resume their normal activities after they recover which in turn leads to loss of movement in the joints and muscle weakness. It takes real effort to regain what has been lost.
By way of Fall Prevention:
1)Take your time when standing up from bed or chair. This is especially important if you take blood pressure medication.
2) If dizzy, find out the reason why, and get treatment whenever possible. Boost your strength and balance by doing exercises that improve balance. Always proceed with your doctor’s approval.
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.” WEB, 3 John 2.
May God’s peace and joy be with you each one, through all the days of 2017!
Blessings,
Barbara D. Thiele
Adventist Health and Spiritual Care