Falls Prevention Virtual Event - Home Hazards

1. An older person falls every minute on average

2. In America one in every four adults fall each year.

3. Possible conditions that could cause you to fall include:

• Lower body weakness
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Difficulties with walking and balance
• Use of medicines, such as tranquilizers, sedatives, or antidepressants. Even some over-the-counter medicines
• Vision problems
• Foot pain or poor footwear
• Home hazards such as broken/uneven steps and throw rugs/clutter that can be tripped over.

4. Four things you can do to prevent a fall include:

• Talking to your doctor
• Doing strength and balance exercises
• Having your eyes checked
• Making your home safer

5. The estimated total lifetime medical cost of falls (fatal and non-fatal) is $1.1 billion in Ohio. Add costs related to work loss and the total climbs to $2 billion. 

6. Less than 60% of older adults engage in physical activity. 

7. Common myths related to falls include:

• Falling happens to other people, not to me
• Falling is something normal that happens as you get older
• If I limit my activity, I won’t fall
• As long as I stay at home, I can avoid falling
• Muscle strength and flexibility can’t be regained
• Taking medication doesn’t increase my risk of falling
• I don’t need to get my vision checked every year
• Using a walker or cane will make me more dependent
• I don’t need to talk to family members or my health care provider if I’m concerned about my risk of falling. I don’t want to alarm them, and I want to keep my independence
• I don’t need to talk to my parent, spouse, or other older adult if I’m concerned about their risk of falling. It will hurt their feelings, and it’s none of my business.