Yes, You Can Reduce the Risk of Falls in the Home

There are many reasons that some people may be more likely to fall and get hurt, but many times falls are preventable.

The National Council on Aging notes that “falling is not an inevitable result of aging” even though falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that “every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.”

When someone falls and injures themselves, it can greatly impact their lifestyle, including the ability to live independently. However, when someone lives in fear of falling, they can also diminish their quality of life.

We’ve created a flowchart that shows the steps to take to ideally reduce fall risk, and possibly prevent a fall in the home of an elder. Take a look to see if there is someone in your life who could benefit from this advice.

There are programs available to put these ideas into action. Visit the National Council on Aging website for a complete of evidence-based falls prevention programs.