Aging in Place is the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.

What do these famous people and one not-so-famous person have in common? John Glenn, Dr. Atkins, Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and John Roberts, Nancy Reagan, Hilary Clinton, President Biden, and Mike Bihari have all had falls that required a trip to the emergency room or their doctor’s office!

As a senior, I am at risk for falling and breaking something, especially my dignity!  And, I am not alone since the population of Falmouth is more than 35 percent over 65, the age bracket at highest risk for falls.

Some Disconcerting Facts

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in people over 65!

• Every 20 minutes an older adult dies from a fall in the US.

• 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falling.

• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury.

• Over 800,000 seniors a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury.

Why Do Older Adults Fall?

Falls are typically caused by a combination of risk factors that lessen your ability to safely and securely maneuver in your environment. Common fall risk factors include:

• Your eyesight, hearing, and reflexes are not as sharp as they were when you were younger.

• Lack of exercise causing muscle weakness.

• Diabetes, heart disease, or problems with your thyroid, nerves, feet, or blood vessels can affect your balance.

• Medications can increase your risk of falling because they cause side effects like dizziness or confusion; the more you take, the more likely you are to fall. Certain medications strongly increase your chances of falling, including pain killers, sedatives, sleeping pills, and antidepressants. Additionally, medications used to treat hypertension can lower your blood pressure, which increases your chances of falling.

• Postural Hypotension: Blood pressure that drops too much when you get up from lying down or sitting.

• Confusion; if you wake up in an unfamiliar environment, you might feel unsure of where you are.

• Brain or mood disorders, including dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, depression, or anxiety and the medications used to treat them.

• Urinary incontinence or having to urinate so often that it requires many urgent trips to the bathroom especially at night.

• Risks in your environment such as uneven ground, clutter in the yard, or ice and snow; incorrect use of walking aids such as canes or walkers; and, loose carpets or wires, dark stairways or corridors, or water on the floor. 

Additionally, living in a cluttered home could cause difficulty in navigating through your home, which could lead to a trip and fall.

Make Your Home Safe from Falls

More than 60 percent of falls happen at home, where we spend much of our time and tend to move around without thinking about our safety. There are many changes you can make to your home that will help you avoid falls and ensure your safety.

• Keep cords away from areas where you walk

• Remove loose carpets and rugs or tack down the carpets and only use rugs with non-skid backing

• Add lights in dimly lit areas and at the top and bottom of stairs

• Use nightlights in bedrooms, halls, and bathrooms

• Clean up clutter, especially near staircases

• Put handrails on both sides of any steps or stairs in or outside of your home

• Add "grab bars" near the toilet and bathtub, and no-slip decals or a rubber mat in the tub or shower

• Wear firm shoes with a back and a good grip on the bottom

• Avoid loose slippers or socks

My Three Falls

I have to admit that I have not been diligent about keeping my home completely safe. Neighborhood Falmouth has developed a Home Safety Checklist that we give to new members that I have not used myself. If I had it would have prevented three falls over the past several months!

Preventable Fall #1: The Carpet in the Garage

On the way out of my garage to bring our recyclables to the curb, my wife reminded me that she had put a new small carpet on the floor so I could wipe my feet. The carpet was not skid-proof and on my way, I slipped on the carpet and fell forward. Fortunately, my fall was broken by my cars sideview mirror and I sustained some hand damage rather than cracking my head on concrete steps.

Preventable Fall #2: The Cushion in the Bedroom

Before going to sleep, I like to read in bed, propping my head on a small black cushion that I toss on the floor when I’m ready to nod off. One night, at two in the morning, I got up to use the bathroom, stepped on the pillow, and slid onto the floor bruising my hip on the way down.

Preventable Fall #3: The Wire in the Kitchen

Sometimes when writing, I sit at my kitchen table with my laptop and a fresh cup of coffee. The computer’s cord was hanging over the edge of the table. I got up and my foot caught in the wire; my coffee went flying and so did I! On the way down I banged my head on a chair, bruising the back of my scalp.

All of these falls could have resulted in significant physical damage, especially bone fractures and head trauma. All of them were completely preventable!