Fall Prevention Tips for Seniors in Midwest City, OK Assisted Living

The Indian Journal of Orthopaedics states that falls are an overall common occurrence, leading to 10% of seniors falling multiple times annually. Since falling can lead to severe injuries and a loss of confidence, learning how to prevent falls is a vital skill for all seniors.

Morada Midwest City, located 16 minutes from Oklahoma City, is here to make the learning process easier.

Listed below are the top fall prevention tips you can start using right away. With a few lifestyle changes and some mindfulness, you can increase your safety. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about fall prevention and senior safety in Midwest City, OK!

Understand Your Risk of Falling

No two people will ever have the same list of risk factors. That's why understanding individual risks is such an important step to assisted living fall protection.

You can't protect yourself fully from something you don't understand completely.

For example, do you know if any of your current medications could put you at a greater risk for falling? Do any conditions cause symptoms such as dizziness or drowsiness? Does your current living arrangement make falling more of a danger, such as with large staircases?

These are key questions to answer before implementing any lifestyle changes.

Make sure to include friends, family, caretakers, and doctors in this evaluation. They could have crucial insight to add that you might otherwise overlook.

Even Lighting

Lighting that is evenly distributed throughout your living space is a necessity. If your lighting creates sharp and sudden shadows, that increases your potential to trip and fall while trying to walk around.

Soft lighting that covers large areas and overlaps with other lighting is the perfect balance. You won't need to squint past a too-bright bulb, and there won't be any hidden shadows with potential tripping hazards.

Open Pathways

Can you make your way from one part of your home to another without needing to side-step anything? An open-floor layout is one of the best ways to protect yourself from falling.

Floor decorations are okay as long as they don't block any direct path. The idea is to make each major area of your home accessible.

Imagine if you had to walk from the living area to the bathroom with your eyes closed. If you think you'd end up bumping into several items, try opening the pathway even more.

Non-Slip Surfaces

Senior communities should always prioritize non-slip surfaces.

This includes adding traction whenever necessary, such as in the bathroom. Rubberized mats that suction onto the floor are great for keeping traction while taking a shower, as well as when you step out of the shower.

Think about your normal routine and picture where extra traction would be beneficial. Buy extra mats and customize your living area to suit your needs.

Invest in several good pairs of non-slip shoes so you have a pair for every occasion, including community activities and going out for dinner. You can't have too many safety precautions when it comes to aging in place strategies.

Strength and Confidence

One of the biggest issues with mobility support for aging adults is that a single fall can take away all of a senior's confidence. Without enough confidence in their strength and mobility, the fear of falling again can make it easier to fall more often.

An easy way to build back your confidence and give yourself stronger protection against falls is to exercise. The good news is that even a little bit of exercise can give you lasting benefits both to your overall health and your ability to catch yourself before a fall.

Some exercises to look into include:

Chair yoga
Tai Chi
Chair leg lifts
Heel-to-toe walking
Single-leg standing

For ultimate safety and to support assisted living wellness, make sure to perform these exercises with others. You can help each other with form correction, and you can be there to help in case of an emergency.

Eliminate Clutter

Excessive clutter harms overall wellness, and it makes tripping and falling much more likely. We all can be a little messy from time to time. If you want to prevent falls as much as possible, however, then it's time to be mindful about the amount of clutter in your home.

This can mean clutter created from going about your daily routine, or it can mean clutter created by too many items in the home. Decorative pieces, for example, are items that can build up quickly without anyone realizing it.

Walking Tools

For some seniors, big lifestyle changes aren't as easy. One of the easiest ways to give yourself better fall prevention is to use a walking aid. These can be items such as:

Canes
Walking frames
Elbow crutches
Trolleys
Knee walkers

In extreme cases, wheelchairs or mobile scooters can also be used until seniors feel ready to move on their own again.

The trick is to learn how to use these aids properly. Without good form, you may put too much weight on the wrong area and cause injury.

Quick Emergency Alerts

No list of prevention tips can be complete without mentioning the need for an emergency plan. Accidents can happen at any time, and you must know what to do if it happens to you or someone close to you.

Fall alert devices, for instance, are a great way to get help as soon as possible. A single press of a button can be enough to get the necessary services on their way.

No matter what your plan of action is, make sure the plan is also known to your loved ones and caretakers.

Implement These Fall Prevention Tips With Morada Midwest City

Even the best fall prevention tips won't be enough if you're not backed by a caring community that works with you to find new ways of living safely in your apartment.

At Morada Midwest City, you're joining a senior community that puts your safety first without stealing away your independence. We'll work with you to make a personalized care plan that ensures your every step is full of confidence and comfort.