Simple tips for lowering fall risk in older adults.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control each year, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls.
Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries among older
adults.
How can older adults prevent these
falls? Environmental and health factors can both lead to
falls. Listed below are some preventative actions that older adults can
take to decrease their chance of falling both in and out of the home.
Health Factors:
- Exercise regularly. It is important that the exercises focus on increasing leg strength and improving balance, and that they get more challenging over time. Tai Chi programs are especially good.
- Ask their doctor or pharmacist to review their medicines—both prescription and over-the counter—to identify medicines that may cause side effects or interactions such as dizziness or drowsiness.
- Have their eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year and update their eyeglasses to maximize their vision. Consider getting a pair with single vision distance lenses for some activities such as walking outside. Clean eyeglasses regularly.
- Talk to their doctor about adequate calcium and vitamin D intake—from food and/or from supplements.
- Do weight bearing exercise.
- Get screened and, if needed, treated for osteoporosis.
Environmental Factors to consider
(this list does not include all potential hazards, but is a good place to
start.)
- Place lamps and a cordless phone within easy reach of the bed or often-used chair.
- Ensure there is a clear pathway between the bedroom and bathroom.
- Set up nightlights in the bedroom and bathroom.
- Keep a flashlight close to the bedside and another in the kitchen in case of emergencies.
- Discard all throw rugs.
- Ensure suitable chair heights, including tub and toilet seats.
- Double check shoes for proper fit, preferably they are low heels and slippers with non-skid soles.
- Ensure there is a long-handled shoehorn to assist putting on footwear.
- Organize clothes and necessities so they are within easy reach.
- Maintain assistive devices, such as walkers, canes, wheelchairs and others in good working order
- Add grab bars inside and outside the tub or shower and next to the toilet
- Add railings on both sides of stairways
- Improve the general lighting in the home.
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
(SFMNP) provide eligible seniors with resources in the form of fresh,
nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from
approved farmers' markets. The purpose of the SFMNP is to increase the
consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables with low income seniors and to
expand the awareness, use of and sales at farmer's markets.
Low-income seniors
generally defined as individuals who are at least 60 years old and who have
household incomes of not more than 185 percent of the Federal Income Poverty
Guidelines (published each year by the Department of Health and Human
Services), are the targeted recipients of SFMNP benefits.
In Illinois
checks for seniors are distributed at local senior 
The
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program season begins July 1st and ends October
31st.
Applications
are available at the Farmers markets listed below.
For a downloadable and printable
copy of ‘Illinois…What’s in Season’ 