Did you know that one in four seniors will experience a serious fall within the next year? Or that almost three million seniors are hospitalized each year for taking a nasty spill? To prevent a loved one from falling, it’s important to understand the most common ways in which these mishaps occur.

• Surgery/Need for Surgery – Seniors with bad hips, ankles, knees, etc., that are in need of surgery, can experience constant pain and weakened joints. As a result, walking can become a painful and dangerous action. Additionally, those who are fresh out of surgery will need time to take it easy and rehab slowly for a few weeks (or months).
• Disease Side Effects – Those who are diagnosed with diseases, such as Parkinson’s or Dementia, can be limited with their mobility. Balance, strength, and energy levels are almost alway affected with these terrible diseases. Taking things slow and physical therapy are both recommended.
• Medication Side Effects – The risk for many diseases and conditions increase as we age. Luckily, there are many medications to help us stay healthy along the way. Certain medications (especially when a few are taken at once) can cause balance problems as well as fatigue and lightheadedness.
• Sedentary Lifestyle – A lack of exercise can cause your bones and muscles to weaken at a faster rate over time. Participating in regular exercise (strength training, hypertrophy training, and stretching) can keep bones, muscles, and joints healthy and strong. Staying seated day in and day out should never be an option!
• Poor Vision – Falling doesn’t always have to be because a person is weak or as a side effect of a drug. Sometimes a fall can occur because a person might not be able to see where they’re going. Make sure you’re getting checked out by an eye doctor on an annual basis and are using the correct prescription of glasses or contacts.

Falling to the ground as a senior can be a frightening and dangerous experience, so know how to avoid having this happen to you or a loved one. For other useful tips and information, visit our blog! If you’re interested in learning more or visiting The Arbors Assisted Living community, schedule a tour by contacting one of our five convenient locations:

Bohemia
Hauppauge
Islandia East
Islandia West
Westbury