Question 

I am an 84-year-old female and a little wobbly at this point. I have not fallen, but I do not feel as secure as I once did. 

Every time that I have an injury now it takes a while for me to heal, so I am a little bit concerned. Several of my friends have fallen and broken something in the last few years, so I do not think my concerns are unfounded. 

I do not want to be another statistic, yet each day that goes by I feel that I am just that much closer to a fall. 

What I would like to know is a fall simply inevitable or is there something that I can do to prevent falls from happening? 

Answer 

I believe that your fear is a natural one for everyone your age. When your friends start falling, it is even more worrisome. You would be ignoring what is happening if you were not wondering if you are next. 

While there is no foolproof solution, there are indeed steps you can take to keep yourself upright.  

I would start with safety features in your home. Bathrooms have hard surfaces and are slippery. If you do not have a grab bar in your shower, have one installed. The odds are that you will need to use it in the future. Consider another grab bar near your toilet. They do have decorative ones now that match the faucet material and do not look too industrial. 

Consider motion or daylight sensing spotlights in hallways and on stairs near the floor to help you navigate when dark. There are a number of options. They are a wonderful way to keep you from tripping on something left in a hallway or on a stair.  

Remove loose throw rugs that you might slip on that might be scattered in your home. 

Next, get yourself a medical alert system to notify someone if you do fall. Until you accomplish that task, keep your cell phone in your pocket at all times. You even need to take it in the bathroom with you, so you can crawl to it if you need help. (Too many fall out of pockets into toilets, always put it on the counter when you enter the bathroom.) 

If you need a cane or a walker, get one and use it. Too often we let our pride get in the way of common-sense safety measures. When the time comes, have a device ready and sitting in a closet so that you can put it into use. If you are grabbing the backs of chairs, couches, and walls to navigate your home, it is time to have a rolling walker available now. 

Safety features are important and should be first steps, yet there is another element you need to add. That is for you to strengthen muscle groups in your body that will offer you the best balance possible. When we are young, we run, skip, climb, and use our bodies in ways that we stop doing as we get older. Now is the time to work on a multifaceted exercise program designed to strengthen all your muscle groups. Start slow and add a new exercise each day. Don’t overdo, but do act. The most important thing you can do to prevent a fall is to make your body stronger and more agile. Many falls can be avoided if when losing your balance, you can right yourself. Tripping and not falling is what I am talking about. A strong responsive body will help to prevent that from happening.  

As we age it takes concerted effort to prevent falling. You are wise to be thinking about it and looking for ways to protect yourself. Your friends gave you a warning sign.