If you want advice on how to avoid falls, do you ask a person who never falls…or do you ask someone who falls like it is an Olympic sport? By choosing this Blog you have chosen an Olympian in a sport that has yet to be accepted by the International Olympic Committee. According to CDC statistics 28% of all Americans over 65 are going to fall….AND if you fall once, you are 50% more likely to have future falls. Those are great odds at a casino but horrible odds in this scenerio. To make matters worse, throw any extra mobility issue into this equation, and your probability of falling increases substantially. Neuropathy, muscle weakness, nerve issues, vertigo, etc. are complications that put you at risk for falling. Simply put,falling is BAD for your health.
There are three different areas to consider to avoid your future falls.
- Listen to your body. I can tell you 50% of my falls were preventable if I had just listened to my body. I am not talking about the part of your body that talks to you after Taco Tuesday, but rather the part that self-assess and knows your limits. For me it’s the “jello legs” and “stiff leg walking” that are my signals. When my legs feel like Jello or I am walking like the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, I often keep trying to make those next few steps even though I know I am beyond my limits. My hard-headedness or desire to finish something often trumps my body warning me that my brain is writing checks my body can’t cash. Listen to your body….it has something to say.
- Limit the obstacle courses in your life. I have a family member who LOVES area rugs. I think this person will put rugs upon rugs on rugs to keep the rugs nice. While their house is beautiful, it is an obstacle course that needs cat-like agility for a faller like me. So other than the dreaded area rugs….here are a few other obstacles I would caution you on….
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- Party Fouls are slippery – Sink splashes, red solo cup spills, and my favorite rogue Ice cubes out of the freezer are friction defying issues that really need to be cleaned promptly. I keep a Swiffer handy to do a quick dry on these little party fouls.
- Removing clutter – Anyone that has seen my desk will know I don’t mean be organized. I am mostly worried about the “stuff” on the floors. In my house that is dog toys. My golden retriever loves to take her toys and strategically place them in the darkest highest traffic areas she can find. I have had many falls due to the ill placed dog toy.
- Watch those extension cords…they can be shockingly hazardous to your falling situation.
- I struggle a lot with uneven ground in general. Frayed carpets, flooring transitions, etc., are going to be hazardous when you least expect them..
- I am so bright, my father calls me son. As bright as I think I am….I am not bright enough to light the path in a dark house. I have given my dog 16 heart attacks tripping over her in the middle of the night because I was too lazy to light it up. Keep dark areas lit!
- Organize your house to help avoid gymnast-like maneuvers. Not everything can be within reaching distance, but when possible, avoid climbing, contorting, stretching, and bending. I have found a grabber is an incredible tool to make my life safer. From picking up clothes off the floor to reaching items off a high shelf,my grabber is a lifesaver!
- Shoes are more than style. My favorite pair of dress shoes (Johnston Murphy) are absolutely stunning. I look good in those shoes. My mother taught me many things and good shoe fashion ranks high on the list. I have really had to reconsider those shoes as fashion may be hurting the function. Because of my risk for falling, I have shifted towards function because frankly, those stunning shoes make me feel very tippy. The lack of support, flat sole, narrow width, and curved sole all look great but cause instability. I am not a podiatrist or a functional shoe expert, but I love the Sperry deck shoes in the summer and Skecher slip-ins in the winter. Hey Dudes are another winner. All of these shoes are lightweight with wide surface area and can be put on with no hands! Look mom no hands!
- Skin tight Leather pants. While I can neither confirm nor deny ever owning skin-tight leather pants, I have learned my clothing can play a huge role in whether I am making things worse on my mobility. Shorts have less drag and weight on my legs than stiff heavy-duty denim. I have noticed huge differences in my ease of mobility with different fabrics, tightness, flexibility, and cuts. I like light and loose…Sorry tight leather pants.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. This is definitely one of those do as I say not as I do! I don’t want to impose. I don’t want to rely on others. I don’t want to be lazy. I used to have the mobility to do what I needed…sometimes I think maybe I still do. I know all the reasons to not ask, but let the Olympian share a secret….help is good for you, and it often makes others feel better about themselves too. I have learned that those around you want to help. Although you feel confident in your abilities, the rest of the world is watching you…wishing you would ask because frankly, even Ray Charles can see we are going to have a problem.
Jim Kissling, the author of this blog post, is the President of AutoFarm Mobility and a person living with Kennedy’s Disease (a rare neuromuscular disease). Jim is an upper 40’s husband, father, son, business person, friend, car lover, boat lover, and he loves to talk about his struggles and achievements in life living with challenges and overcoming them.