Falls & Fall Prevention
Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Mary Gray, Director of Rehabilitation at HealthPartners, about falls and fall prevention.
Mary oversees rehabilitation services across HealthPartners’ community-based hospitals and clinics, including cardiac rehabilitation. A licensed physical therapist with 27 years of experience, she brings deep expertise and passion for geriatrics—particularly fall prevention, dementia and age-friendly care, osteoporosis management, and frailty. Beyond her professional work, Mary is also a caregiver to her 95-year-old father living with dementia, giving her both clinical and personal insight into the realities of aging and safety.
Join us for an enlightening discussion about falls and fall prevention, and stay tuned to gain fresh perspectives on how proactive, age-friendly strategies can help older adults stay safe, independent, and thriving.
Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com
Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.
More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/
Key Facts
- It’s a misconception that only older adults fall, falls affect us all
- Falls are Preventable.
- Every year more than one in four older adults reported falling
- 41,000 older adults die as a result of a fall every year, that's 112 older adults every day.
- More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by older adult falls.
- Falls can have serious consequences, like death, limited mobility, and loss of independence.
- Each year, 3 million older adults are treated for a fall injury.
- Tinetti et al. in 1988 defined a fall as an event that results in a person coming to rest on the ground or other lower-level unintentionally, which is not as a result of a major intrinsic event (such as stroke) or overwhelming hazard.
- Falls occur with high frequency in the older adults, children, and athletes.
Know your risk!
Use the national council on aging’s Falls Free CheckUp® tool to check your risk of falls: https://www.ncoa.org/tools/falls-free-checkup/
Practice Makes Perfect
Whether you choose to sit on the floor for an activity, such as playing with your grandchildren or complete a household task, or because you’ve fallen, your ability to get down to and rise from the floor can make a big difference.
- Ease in getting to and from the floor can be important for maintaining your independence and continuing to enjoy the activities you love.
- Only about half of people who fall can easily get back up on their own, even without an injury.
- By learning how to safely rise from the floor, you can avoid staying down for long periods and reduce the risk of complications, taking greater control of your health and well-being.
CDC’s STEADI
CDC developed the STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) initiative which includes educational materials and tools to improve fall prevention.
Speak up
Talk openly with your loved one and their healthcare provider about fall risks and prevention.
- Tell a healthcare provider right away if your loved one has fallen, or if they are worried about falling, or seem unsteady.
- Keep an updated list of your loved one’s medications. Show a healthcare provider or pharmacist all of their medications, including over-the-counter medications, and supplements. Discuss any side effects, like feeling dizzy or sleepy.
- Ask their healthcare provider about taking vitamin D supplements to improve bone, muscle, and nerve health.
- Keep Moving
- Activities that improve balance and strengthen legs (like Tai Chi) can prevent falls.
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- Exercise and movement can also help your loved one feel better and more confident.
- Check with their healthcare provider about the best type of exercise program for them
- Have Eyes and Feet Checked
- Being able to see and walk comfortably can prevent falls.
- Have their eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year.
- Replace eyeglasses as needed.
- Have their healthcare provider check their feet once a year.
- Discuss proper footwear, and ask whether seeing a foot specialist is advised.
- Make the Home Safe
- Most falls happen at home.
- Secure some support: Buy a shower seat, grab bar, and adjustable-height handheld shower head to make bathing easier and safer.
- Light it up: Replace burnt-out bulbs with bright, non-glare lightbulbs.
- Have a seat: Place a sturdy chair in your bedroom so you can sit while getting dressed.
- Clear the way: Keep items off the stairs, and fix simple but serious hazards such as clutter and throw rugs.
- Store for success: Keep frequently used items between your waist and shoulder height.
- Most falls happen at home.
Feet and Footwear
What foot problems are associated with falls?
Foot related risk factors that increase fall risk:
- Increased foot pain
- Reduced flexibility in ankle joint
- Reduced calf muscle strength (the muscle that helps you rise on the balls of your feet)
- Reduced sensation resulting from neuropathy (nerve damage)
- Presence of a bunion (hallux valgus deformity) or toe deformities
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/media/pdfs/2024/08/STEADI_Feet_Footwear_Guide_O.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/patient-resources/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/patient-resources/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/falls/about/index.html
