Q. About six months ago, I was walking to my car and fell in my driveway. The fall broke my hip, and I had surgery a few days later. My doctor suggested physical therapy and prescribed pain medication. It’s been an awful experience. I’m getting better, but I’m still in a lot of pain and can’t move around as much as I’d like. Even worse, I’m afraid I might fall again so I’m not getting out and about much. What can I do to overcome this fear and continue to heal?
A. You aren’t alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of every four people over age 65 fall and more than 300,000 people fracture their hip every year. Like you, many people who fall share a fear of the next fall, so they limit their activities to protect themselves. In reality, limiting activity results in limited ability and puts you at greater risk of falling.
The best way to overcome your fears is to first educate yourself on how to prevent a fall. In honor of Falls Prevention Awareness Week (September 23-27, 2024), the National Council on Aging shares the following easy steps:
- Take part in an exercise program. Whether it’s joining a walking club or participating in a Tai Chi class in your community, physical activity is a great way to improve your balance, mobility and flexibility. This will decrease your risk of falling.
- Talk to your doctor and take a falls assessment. This will help your provider understand how your lifestyle might impact your falls risk and recommend different activities to keep you safe. The assessment may recommend that you slow down when moving from place to place, or that you try using an assistive device like a cane when walking longer distances.
- Review your medication list with your doctor or pharmacist. Some drugs, or drug interactions, make you less physically stable and may contribute to a fall. By reviewing your full medication list, the doctor or pharmacist can best advise on how and when to take medications. Be sure to include any over the counter or nonprescribed medications you take.
- Get your eyes and ears checked every year. Your hearing and vision are critical to understanding the world around you and can help you be more aware of things that may cause you to fall. Don’t be afraid to get an updated prescription for your glasses or start wearing a hearing aid if you need it.
- Look for hazards in your home. Each year, many falls happen right in our own homes. Some things that cause these falls include loose rugs or carpets, broken handrails on stairs, or missing grab bars in the shower. Even our pets can cause falls when they are regularly under our feet. There are lots of easy fixes for falls hazards in our home, like nailing down our carpets or putting a bell on our cat’s collar so we know where they are.
AgeSpan offers an eight-week program designed to help people like you who want to stay mobile but have a fear of falls. It’s called “A Matter of Balance” and you can participate in person or online. For more information or to register for the next class, give us a call at 1-800-892-0890.
Are you caring for an older adult or need help finding healthy aging resources? Our experienced staff is available to help. Visit us online at www.agespan.org. You can also call 800-892-0890 or email info@agespan.org.
Joan Hatem-Roy is the chief executive officer of AgeSpan, which serves the following cities and towns: Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Boxford, Chelmsford, Danvers, Dracut, Dunstable, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Peabody, Rowley, Salisbury, Salem, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford, and West Newbury.
First published in the Eagle-Tribune.
