4 Ways to Prevent Falls During Stay at Home Order
Let’s keep moving, Sacramento! As we stay home to lessen our risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19, we might find our physical activity level tapering off. Reducing our activity increases our risk of a fall. But the good news is there are things we can do to help prevent falls while we stay safe at home.
1. Get Moving
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Move Your Way campaign reminds us that it’s never too late to increase our level of activity. “Just getting started? No problem — start slow and do what you can. Even a 5-minute walk has real health benefits. Build up to more activity over time. Mix in stretches and activities to improve your balance, too! Keep your body flexible and help lower your risk of falls.” (https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2019-11/PAG_MYW_OlderAdults_FS.pdf)
2. Explore Online Workout Videos
Go4Life, an exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH, is designed to help you fit exercise and physical activity into your daily life. You can find their free exercise videos on their website or YouTube channel.
3. Improve Home Safety
Use this time to complete a home safety checklist to find and fix hazards around the house. Small changes, like clearing clutter, removing slippery rugs, and wearing well-fitted shoes with good support, can make a big difference. The Centers for Disease Control STEADI program provides a Check For Safety brochure that can help you make changes now, and make a list of things you may need help with when people can come over to help you with repairs.
https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/STEADI-Brochure-CheckForSafety-508.pdf
4. Speak Up, Stay Independent
The CDC STEADI program reminds us that a fall injury can have serious health consequences. If you are concerned about falls, talk openly with your healthcare provider about fall risks and prevention. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medicines. Use their Stay Independent checklist to identify concerns that you can discuss with your doctor.
https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/STEADI-Brochure-StayIndependent-508.pdf
The StopFalls Sacramento coalition looks forward to seeing you when public gatherings can safely resume. We salute our members and the many older adult service agencies that continue to provide critical services at this time. Please visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StopFalls.Sacramento/ for more home safety tips and resources for exercising at home.