Part One: Talking to Your Physician

When you’re young, a tiny trip over a rogue electrical cord or a stumble on the bottom stair is no big deal—a bit of dust on your knee, or a harmless bruise on your wrist. But for older adults, it’s a very real fear. Falling is the greatest cause of injury death among adults 65 and older; it’s estimated that one in every three people in this age group will experience a fall each year. While about half of these falls cause only minor injuries, about two per cent are fatal. Moreover, some have estimated that more than 50 per cent of older adults who break a hip from falling will die within one year.

But I’m not trying to scare you. In fact, the fear of falling in itself causes great distress and anxiety among many older adults. Elderly people who have fallen once often develop an intense fear of falling again, and limit their activity as a result. This not only lessens their quality of life, but the decrease in daily activities will actually make a fall more likely for these men and women. A fall, or the fear of a fall, often leads to inactivity, which leads to weakness, which in a cruel twist of irony leads to a greater risk of falling.

So what can be done? Is all hope lost for retirees? Of course not—there are plenty of ways to reduce the risk of falling, while still enjoying a high quality of life.

The first step is to get checked out. If you’re noticing you have trouble walking, it could be due to weak leg muscles or poor balance. But there may be other factors involved as well, and it’s important to make sure your physician is aware of any struggles you are dealing with. Difficulty walking could be a symptom of a specific medical issue, like arthritis or other joint diseases, dementia, stroke, anemia, Parkinson’s disease, or muscle and bone diseases, to name a few. If you are suffering from one of these conditions, it’s important your physician knows, so they are better equipped to deal with both your difficulty walking and the underlying medical issue.

You should also discuss any medications you take with your physician, even the ones that are available over the counter. Some medications have side effects, like dizziness, drowsiness or disorientation, which can increase the risk of falling. If halting these medications isn’t an option, taking them in the evening before bed can help reduce that risk.

Your eyes need regular care, too. If your vision is blurry, you’re more likely to misstep, trip, or accidentally run into an object. Seeing an optometrist every year will ensure your eyeglass prescriptions are up to date, and that any other visual restrictions, like glaucoma or cataracts, are treated.

The fear of falling is scary, and it’s not something you need to deal with on your own. Make sure you take advantage of your health care professionals, and remember that they’re there to help keep you safe and strong.

See Part Two: Fighting the Fear of Falling – Proofing your Life