THE NEW YORK TIMES – For older adults, falling once doubles the chance of falling again. Dr. Reuben recommends seeing your primary care doctor if you’ve fallen recently, particularly if you’re 75 or older.
And regardless of your age, he advises seeing your doctor if you’re experiencing dizziness and unsteadiness, which are not normal symptoms but often have treatable causes.
There are several actions that can help keep you on an even keel.
Wear the right shoes.
When Dr. Pankratz sees patients in his fall clinics, he assesses their footwear. If they’re having trouble clearing curbs, for instance, he might suggest shoes with lower soles.
He also stresses the importance of shoes with sufficient tread in winter to reduce the likelihood of slipping on snow or ice. And he advises against loose sandals and flip-flops, which can be “very bad because their whole sole flops down and drags on the floor.”
Fall-proof your home.
In 2023, Cochrane, a research organization, reviewed 22 studies that investigated fall-prevention strategies among older adults. It found that identifying and eliminating fall hazards at home — poorly lit corridors, stairs without railings and slippery pathways — was likely to reduce the overall rate of falls by 26 percent.
The same interventions were even more effective in people who had a high risk of falling, reducing their overall rate by 38 percent.
Dr. Reuben often advises patients to add grab bars in the shower and to reduce clutter and other tripping hazards such as throw rugs and power cords.
Build strength and balance.
Exercises that build strength and balance have been found to reduce older adults’ fall risk by about a quarter, according to a 2019 review of multiple clinical trials.
Fall-prevention exercise programs designed for older adults, including SAIL and Stepping On, typically include both …
