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What YOU Can Do to Prevent Falls

What YOU Can Do to Prevent Falls. Today’s Talk. Overview of effects of falls 4 steps to prevent falls. Falls in Louisiana. Approximately 9,600 Louisianans are hospitalized for fall-related injuries. Falls account for 36% of all injury hospitalizations.

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What YOU Can Do to Prevent Falls

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  1. What YOU Can Do to Prevent Falls

  2. Today’s Talk • Overview of effects of falls • 4 steps to prevent falls

  3. Falls in Louisiana • Approximately 9,600 Louisianans are hospitalized for fall-related injuries. • Falls account for 36% of all injury hospitalizations. • Every year 150 Louisianans die as a result of a fall injury.

  4. Effects of Falls • Injury hospitalization – hip fractures, broken bones, traumatic brain injury • Nursing-home admission • Disability • Death

  5. Mrs. Emma M’s Story • Age 76, healthy & active – fell down stairs • Broke her left femur in 3 places • Hospital admission • Nursing-home admission • Home-health care • Multi-year recovery • Daily physical therapy exercises – 4 years post-fall.

  6. Begin An Exercise Program • Lack of exercise leads to weakness and increases your chance of falling. • Exercise makes you stronger & helps you feel better

  7. Begin An Exercise Program • Exercises that improve balance and coordination, like Tai Chi are most helpful. • Ask your doctor or health care provider about the best type of exercise program for you.

  8. Have Your Health Care Provider Review Your Medications • Have your doctor or pharmacist review all of the medicines you take – including over the counter meds • Some medicines or combinations of medicines can cause you to fall by making you sleepy or dizzy

  9. Have Your Vision Checked • Have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist or optometrist once a year • You may be wearing the wrong glasses or have a condition like glaucoma or cataracts that limits your vision. • Poor vision can increase your chances of falling.

  10. Make Your Home Safer • Have grab bars put in next to your toilet and in the tub or shower. • Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping.

  11. Make Your Home Safer • Remove things you can trip over like papers, books, clothes, and shoes from stairs and places you walk. • Keep items you use often in cabinets you can reach easily without using a step stool.

  12. Make Your Home Safer • Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors. • Improve the lighting in your home. As you get older, you need brighter lights to see well. Hang light-weight curtains or shades to reduce glare.

  13. Make Your Home Safer • Wear shoes both inside and outside the house. • Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers.

  14. I’m thankful for my life now. My faith, family, and friends helped me through my darkest hours.Mrs. Emma M

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