4 Fall Prevention Myths You Must Stop Believing

“I can make my way around my own home – I can skip wearing glasses from time to time.”

While it’s easy to blame a slippery floor or problematic chair that can cause a senior to trip, your eyesight is a critical risk-factor. Make sure you’re motivating your client and/or loved one’s family to schedule regular appointments (at least once a year) with an eye doctor. If your loved one wears glasses, make sure their prescription is up to date, as those with poor vision are twice as likely to fall. Also, be sure that you and your loved one aren’t confusing vision with eye health. Even if your client or loved one has had perfect vision for decades, their eye health can seriously change and lead to blurry vision and even loss of vision.

“My doctor prescribed me my medicines, so it’s not dangerous.”

No matter what your doctor prescribes there is always a chance that the medicine can make you dizzy or cause drowsiness, which can result in a fall. Always, always, always ask about the possible side effects, and make sure that your love one’s doctors are aware of the medications you are taking and when a new one is added to their regimen because any new drug can cause dizziness or for a person to feel faint when mixed with another.

“I can’t exercise, because I may fall and break my hip.”

One of the most common misconceptions about getting older and exercising is that it can’t and won’t do anything to your body…that a senior can’t keep up with fitness routines simply because of their age. Exercising can actually help you stay more limber and flexible, which contributes to healthy bones and joints! It can improve balance first and foremost, so don’t worry . Just make sure your loved one doesn’t exercise alone.

“If I tell someone I’m afraid of falling, I may lose my independence.”

Fear of aging and losing even more independence is one of the most common concerns and causes a great deal of stress amongst elderly clients. Of course, it is often something they keep to themselves. Expressing that they have a fear of falling, getting sick or overstraining themselves is, as a result, very common because of this. There is nothing worse than a lack of communication between a client and caregiver. Caregivers can’t assume nor read the client’s mind. Because of this, the client must be told that it is okay to voice their emotions and feelings about anything and everything – especially if it could potentially save their life like a fall!