Falling and Falling Injuries: Reduce Your Risk of Falling

Falling and falling injuries are leading causes of hospitalization and death for older adults. Fortunately, many falling injuries can be prevented by taking care to avoid falls. Learn how to protect yourself from falling by making your home safer and improving your balance and dexterity.

• More Seniors Face Injury and Death from Falling
  Falling injuries cost the United States more than $100 billion per year. Learn why falling injuries are increasing, and how to prevent falling.
• 4 Simple Steps to Prevent Falling
  Falling injuries are the leading cause of death for older adults, but there is good news. Many falling injuries can be prevented by taking a few simple steps.
• Smart Ankle Brace May Stop Seniors from Falling
  How does aging affect a person's balance and perception? Learn about a product that researchers hope will help older adults improve their balance and perception, and prevent falling and falling injuries.
• Why Older Adults Need Improved Shower and Bathtub Safety
  In a research study, one-third of the older adult participants had trouble getting in or out of a bathtub or shower. To avoid injuries or falling, find out why it's important to make your bathtub or shower safe to use.
• Home Safety Tips for Low Vision: Live Independently and Avoid Falling
  Low vision or blindness affects approximately one in 28 people over age 40, and as the population ages so will the rate of low vision. These home safety tips are designed to help people with low vision live independently while avoiding falling and falling injuries.

Exercises that Help to Reduce Your Risk of Falling
These are exercises you can do at home, and they include safety tips for beginning and experienced exercisers.

• Lower Body Exercise for Seniors: Improve Strength and Balance
  Improving lower body strength will help to improve your balance, and better balance means reduced risk of falling injuries.
• Strength Exercises for Seniors: Build Muscle, Increase Metabolism
  Stronger muscles help hold you up and improve your ability to avoid falls and recover from them if you do fall. Follow the safety tips before you begin your strength program.
• Stretching Exercises for Seniors: Increase Freedom of Movement
  Sometimes the difference between falling and not falling is your ability to recover from a slip or maintain your balance on uneven ground. These simple balance exercises will improve your freedom of movement and dexterity.