accepting I'm ageing

It knocks your confidence doesn’t it? I had a fall recently in a shopping centre, striding along, I slipped on a small piece of bread someone had dropped. It has made me very wary when I go anywhere now where there is glazed tiling on the floor. I no longer stride anywhere and am constantly looking down at the floor. I never gave it a thought before. Similarly, I never used walking poles before I had a knee injury crossing some moorland. Frankly they are a bloody nuisance, but now they are essential to me to test any “iffy” looking ground and basically just to keep me upright. It slows you right down and spoils your enjoyment of just being out.

Fennel I'm so sorry you have these nasty experiences. My Mother did this quite often and absolutely refused a walking stick or any other aid. I have had two for several years now and I use them especially in uneven walking conditions/ice/ snow etc. I do think getting yourself checked out is also good advice- sometimes there is a physical cause which can be fixed like adjusting your medication.

In Scotland there is a 'Falls Pathway', which sounds kind of bazaar but anyone over a certain age who experiences a fall would automatically get a physio ireferral/assessment and be given a programme to promote their balance and thus improve confidence. Perhaps you could enquire thru your gp surgery or district nurses??
Head torches are wonderful, now available incorporated in knitted hats!
Please act on this now as folk get isolated so quickly and its such a shame to lose your independence /social life over this.

I gave my mother a couple of walking poles. Four legs are better than two. She says she doesn’t feel as geriatric with poles as she might with a stick.?
Anything to keep doing what you like to do seems worth a try.

Fennel I hope you are on the mend soon.

I don't find it easy to accept ageing either. However, Futurelearn.com has a course "Ageing well: Falls". It's not running at the moment but if you register your interest you should get an email to tell when it going to start. Other gransnetters have recommended it and I'm going to do it.
Meantime exercises to improve balance, shoes with anti-slip soles, a walking stick, a torch and keep smiling!

If ever I feel a bit shaky I use a walking pole and it gives me the confidence to go walking and to know I can keep myself upright. I also go to Keep Fit. Our age range is 60s up to 97 and we are taught simple balancing exercises, which you can no doubt find online. Best of luck.

Good post Alima.

I hope you are feeling better Fennel and your knee is ok. Would it help if you took a walking stick with you, give you more confidence. DH got one online when he had his hip done, they do some quite jazzy ones now.

Would a head torch help? I live in the Lakes and they are used commonly here. I guess they may look unusual in towns but they are so practical.

Sounds a horribly difficult decision fennel. I wouldn’t want to put you at risk but I’m wondering if there was a reason you fell. Was there an uneven paving stone, a high kerb, something lying in the floor? Anything unusual?

I’m sorry if this sounds like prying but is there a physical reason? Have you been checked out by a doctor since you began to fall?

It’s just that I’m thinking after an accident is not a good time to be making decisions. I guess keeping your independence can happen in many ways, certainly being in one piece is a start. I think if it were me I’d seek medical advice then make a decision about walking alone after dark. I might think it best to use a stick or perhaps two, consider a taxi or even travel with a friend if that were possible.

Hope the knee mends very soon and wishing you well. I really hope you can keep doing what you want to do, even if you need to adapt the way you do it.