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Share your tips for avoiding trips and falls as you get older - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

(237 Posts)
JustineBGransnet (GNHQ) Tue 13-Dec-16 11:19:05

Have you found that it’s easier to lose your balance as you get older? If you have, do you find yourself being more cautious or taking precautions to avoid trips or falls? Maybe you’re more choosy about your footwear, or take more care when you’re climbing stairs? BMI Healthcare would like to hear about the tips you have for avoiding trips and falls as you get older.

Here’s what BMI Healthcare have to say: “We often create leaflets and information to give out to our orthopaedic and physiotherapy patients and to publish on the web for everyone to read. Often it can be quite generic and not really relevant to most activities that people do. We'd really like to understand how joint and bone pain affects your everyday life, especially if it puts you off balance and if you feel more unsteady on your feet. From what we learn, we can continue to tailor our information to make it more useful for everyone. Thank you for your help. You can view some of the information we already have available here.”

All those who leave a comment below sharing a tip will be entered into a prize draw where one GNer will win a £300 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

GNHQ

gran1 Thu 15-Dec-16 15:25:46

Don't leave newspapers, magazines, leaflets etc. on the floor. They are particularly slippery and have caused falls here.

grannysmith953 Thu 15-Dec-16 15:48:19

If you need a stick, use one! And don't leave it leaning on the chair/table/wall for someone else to trip over... There are some really pretty fold up ones which work a treat.

harrysgran Thu 15-Dec-16 17:15:17

I've had a couple of falls which have led to broken bones I had a scan and was diagnosed with osteoporosis so I am very careful when walking around the only tips I would say I have is to keep floors clear use sensor plug in lights make sure the garden path is well lit I also have an led torch attached to my car keys and the best tip wear sketchers go walk as well as being comfortable they have excellent grip.

aggie Thu 15-Dec-16 17:42:33

reading all these tips , I feel like not moving out of my chair sad or not getting out of bed of a morning . My friend broke her wrist falling at the falling down clinic , her words were unrepeatable

TriciaF Thu 15-Dec-16 18:33:58

harrysgran re sketchers go walk - I agree.
A friend bought me a pair last year. I have various foot problems, and they're the most comfortable and supportive shoes I've ever worn.
Since then I've bought another 2 pairs online.

MB1001 Thu 15-Dec-16 18:44:11

Take it slowly...and don't be embarrassed to get a stair lift if you need one.

ellenemery Thu 15-Dec-16 20:07:47

Walk carefully near the top of the stairs. Earlier in the year I slipped on the top step and luckily was holding on to both banisters we have. I had not even started to come down but I still went down 4 or 5 steps and bruised my back. I really jolted my hip and my knees.

Galen Thu 15-Dec-16 20:16:42

No loose rugs
Bars wherever possible
Crutches, walking frames, sticks etc. Left at vulnerable places.
Supportive footwear
Alarm system for falls

Bobbysgirl19 Fri 16-Dec-16 00:54:55

If you have to climb stairs get hand rails installed. Don't try to carry too much at a time when going up and down stairs.

Always take your time walking around and especially outdoors. I have had several near misses when stepping off kerbs, and now I am really conscious of looking down and checking carefully before stepping off.

lionpops Fri 16-Dec-16 06:38:24

Placing a sensor mat next to the bed lets you know when the occupant is on the move.
Pimping up walking aids with colourful tubing and at this time of year Xmas decorations makes them very visible to the user.
Ensuring a jug of water is next to the bed/armchair to remain hydrated.
Regular mealtimes.
If you have an elderly relative and you live some distance away installing a smart device means that when a chosen appliance is switched on first thing the morning you know that they are up out of bed and mobile.
Wearing slippers/shoes with backs on and a Velcro strap ensures no slippage.

Maggiemaybe Fri 16-Dec-16 07:32:40

For others like me whose minds are always on the long to do list in their head...just concentrate on what you're doing. I measured my length on my own street this Summer dashing off to town, thinking about what I had to buy, worrying about getting home on time for the next appointment, turning to wave at a neighbour, and tripping over a raised inspection cover on the pavement. As I now know, broken bones and jarred ligament cause lasting problems that I could have avoided just by concentrating on the here and now.

suzied Fri 16-Dec-16 08:05:56

Remaining active as possible is the best health advice. Others have mentioned Pikates, yoga, swimming , walking to keep strength , balance and mobility.

mumofmadboys Fri 16-Dec-16 08:12:48

Remove rugs, move slowly and carefully, limit alcohol to one glass.

radicalnan Fri 16-Dec-16 10:05:06

I have given up chasing men and just invite them round now.

Liz46 Fri 16-Dec-16 11:33:00

good one radicalnan!

My husband moved the laptop and left the lead near my feet. I tripped over it and badly scraped my leg on the corner of a footstool. (If you have a footstool, check the corners).

I very carefully throw washing down from the landing to the hall rather than try to carry it down. I am ok at bending down to pick it up.

I always hold onto the banister when going up or down stairs.

M0nica Fri 16-Dec-16 16:15:53

I have always had a poor sense of balance and a tendency to trip over and go over on my ankle, fortunately, my balance having started bad hasn't got noticeably worse as I get older.

Things I have done since I was about 18 are not to wear high heel shoes and, after a health and safety course at work about 30 years ago, always hold the banister when going down stairs. Something I insist DGC do (Grandma's rules).

My last fall was this time last year. Wearing sensible shoes, I slipped on wet grass and went over on my back with a thump. I was bruised and shaken but sustained no damage, although I was sore and stiff for about 6 weeks. Nothing age related in the fall just normal for me.

Lewlew Fri 16-Dec-16 18:36:38

SLIPPERY SURFACES Get someone to help you if you are prone to slips and falls yourself.

MOULD/MOSS
I don't waste money on those patio cleaners any more as they do not work. If there is moss/slime/mould on your paving or decking use BLEACH. It does not have to be used in concentrated quantities, mix with water so you can brush it on with a push broom and smear it around. If in an area you control, put down at night and leave till morning, then it should evaporate and you can see the green is gone. Reapply until it's gone. If you share an entrance, put up a sign that you have treated the area so no one accidently tracks it onto their own carpet or into their car.

This is one of the worst slippy surface dangers that I know of, especially on the north and east sides of buildings.

ICE/SNOW
In winter, use salt mixed with builders sand on paths. Only use enough sand to get traction. Put down before the bad weather sets in. If there is little accumulation or it's sleet, the surface should stay fairly clear. If you are up north... good luck. I used to live on the Canadian border. Aside from shovelling and using a snowblower, there's not much help. I am a bit appalled here that property and business owners do not clear the area outside their premises. It's the law in many US cities.

Takingthemick Fri 16-Dec-16 18:51:35

Tai Chi classes at the local community centre has been a great success for people with balance issues. We manage to keep the price at £3 per class as most are on a tight budget.

Synonymous Sun 18-Dec-16 00:54:14

So many good tips already on here.
We moved to a bungalow as stairs are so dangerous when your balance is poor. We had a hand rail on both sides of the stairs which helped.
In our new home when we had our hallway re-carpeted we got rid of moveable door mats and instead had a large area fitted with wall to wall non slip matting for foot wiping (and dripping on to). It does mean that it is a safe landing place and trip items like abandoned shoes can be moved further away from the entrance way.
Taking more time when doing anything helps avoid accidents and looking to see exactly where you will be putting your feet is important.
If you think something may be a dangerous thing to do as you just might have an accident then please don't risk it because the chances are that you definitely will have that accident!
Know that, been there and have done it! grin

Nannacool Sun 18-Dec-16 04:36:08

I hate the Cliche mindfulness, But as you get older it really begins to matter, job in hand, for instance, as your going down the stairs, think about what your doing , not making the cup of tea when you get down, we all let our minds wander and as we get older they wander off a bit far too sometimes! easy to forget where the bottom step is, of how slippy that path is getting, and as for breaking out into a useful trot, some days it just doesn't happen !! So mindful also of how Our body feels on a particular day. As no two days are alike when getting older in the body department.

TriciaF Sun 18-Dec-16 11:36:35

Good point Nannacool:
'job in hand, for instance, as your going down the stairs, think about what your doing , not making the cup of tea when you get down,'
That's what led to me having a car accident - thinking about all the chores I had to do in the town instead of watching the road ahead.
Does Mindfulness training really help?

hulahoop Sun 18-Dec-16 18:09:27

Wear good supportive footwear ,use handrail when coming downstairs ,don't have rugs ,don't rush concentrate on what you are doing ,us none slip mats in bath or shower , fir hand rails where possible , salt sand paths in bad weather

gillybob Mon 19-Dec-16 13:55:52

I have been nagging my dad to use a walking stick for a long time. he is quite unsteady on his feet and I worry about him falling. Recently he had an appointment with a consultant for an unrelated matter. He was very nice but had a very broad German accent. At the end of the consultation I was asked if I would like to ask any questions. I then asked the consultant his views on using a walking stick.

The consultant laughed and said "oh, that old chestnut" He then looked right at my dad and in his best "Gestapo" accent said "vell put it Zis vay Mr G, If you fall down and break your hip, I will hear about it and I don't zink you vant that do you?" tchshock

durhamjen Mon 19-Dec-16 22:07:53

I live in a bungalow but still managed to fall downstairs and break my wrist. You have to be more careful when in other people's houses, and walk more slowly. Living in a bungalow can give you a false sense of security.

Beammeupscottie Mon 19-Dec-16 23:05:38

I always shower with flip-flips on. A lot of people come a cropper in a soapy tray.