Tips for Fall Prevention
Welcome back to Sage Space!
This week marks the 23rd anniversary of September 11th, a day of reflection and remembrance for those who lost their lives and the families who were deeply affected. Having spent most of my life in NYC, it's a time to pause and honor the impact this day has had on our community.
On Tuesday of this week, our team had the pleasure of supporting the Family and Children's Association at the H.O.P.E. Fair (Happiness, Opportunity, Positive Energy). FCA is an incredible organization that serves over 10,000 seniors across Long Island. We had the opportunity to learn so much from engaging with attendees and listening to the breakout sessions. One of the key topics was fall prevention, and I particularly enjoyed speaking with a team working with NYU that teaches Tai Chi—an evidence-based exercise for easing arthritis and preventing falls. You can learn more about the benefits of Tai Chi program here.
In honor of Fall Safety Month, we’ll be diving deeper into safety and fall prevention tips this week.
Best,
Cathy
Co-founder and CEO – Wisdom.io
cathy@mywisdom.io
Tips for the week…
You’re never too old for a night light!
More than two-thirds of all falls happen at night. Who would’ve thought getting up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night could be the most dangerous part of your day? Don’t risk bumping into the laundry bin you forgot to move or tripping over your husband’s shoes that never make it to the closet – and get a night light (like this one!)
Does having a light make it harder for you to fall asleep? The experts have thought of that too! Try a motion-detected night light like the one linked here.
Get regular vision and hearing screens
Your eyes and ears are integral to keeping good balance! So if it has become just a little bit harder to hear your partner yell to you from the other room or you are finding yourself squint at signs you used to be able to make out clearly, make sure you are getting these checked at your regular physical.
Balance and Strength Exercises
While it’s not possible to completely prevent a fall, exercises that focus on balance and strength training can reduce the risk of falling. Activities such as squatting, standing up from a chair and standing up too quickly may make you feel unsteady, which increases your risk of falling. By introducing some daily exercises a few minutes a day, you will be decreasing your risks for a fall in the future.
Here are some examples of exercises you can do at home:
Quote of the Day
“Being strong does not mean that you never fall down, but that whenever you fall, you get up again.” - Confucius
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