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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

jocork Tue 20-Dec-16 06:36:11

The worst fall I've had was due to reading a leaflet I'd just been handed and I stepped off a small step in the pavement into mid air! Thankfully I didn't hit my head but I did hit just about everything else! The 'step' in question now has a yellow painted edge and is a reminder to me always to look both ahead and down at my feet. I might miss out on seeing some other things around me but I stay safe.
I also now wear varifocals so I always hold a handrail when going down stairs. Going up is not such a problem but I still mostly hold a rail then too as I can take some of the weight of a dodgy knee that way!

dahlia08 Tue 20-Dec-16 11:05:52

I am not there yet but I use flat shoes, trainers for walking. Take your time and don't rush about, keep wire or anything you might trip over out of the way. Keep everything in its place. When walking outside watch out for uneven pavement. Look after yourself. X

Miriam Tue 20-Dec-16 16:33:24

Always wear slippers with backs in the house, not flip flops, and when outside where flat shoes or wedges. Also keep your mind on where you are putting your feet, if your mind wanders you are more likely to trip up uneven pavements.

mosnef Tue 20-Dec-16 17:56:24

Use a shopping trolley with wheels when shopping rather than try to carry heavy or awkward bags, use ice grippers on the bottom of your shoe if the pavements are slippery

Nelliemaggs Tue 20-Dec-16 18:53:11

Don't live with a toddler! I can't do much about this but last week I tripped over his potty, fortunately empty, and slammed my arm against a door frame. He is good about tidying up when reminded but my daughter forgets that I don't see, or even think, as well as I might and the whole house feels like it is booby trapped.

When I broke my leg a few years ago I had a firm rail put in opposite the banister rail and it has been a godsend to guide me down and let me haul myself up. Our house has two half landings and after slipping off one of them and landing with a thump, only two steps down but hard enough to break a toe, I make myself count steps as I go down to make myself consciously careful.

franjess2000 Wed 21-Dec-16 15:43:26

Get your eyes tested regularly in case of any eye conditions that cause peripheral field loss

Direne3 Wed 21-Dec-16 16:13:57

The hand grip that I fixed to wall at top of downward stairs gives us both confidence when stepping towards stair hand rail.

Johm4 Wed 21-Dec-16 16:18:01

Just bought a new pair of shoes and made sure that the soles have really good grips.

annemac101 Wed 21-Dec-16 17:35:45

Don't rush around too much. Think when you are at the top of the stairs going down and take your time. I broke a rib by having socks on and slipping my feet into sandals to go down stairs it made the sandals really slippy and I fell. Keep a basket at the bottom of the stairs for objects that need to go upstairs to avoid going up and down too many times. Don't have rugs lying around that you could slip on. I have a leg that sometimes won't hold me so when I stand I have to stretch it before I move. Just take your time.

glitterpops Wed 21-Dec-16 22:44:28

Be mindful of each step or action- giving it your full attention will minimise falls.

ddraig123 Wed 21-Dec-16 23:25:29

Be particularly careful when coming out of the shower - use non-slip mats.

Appy Wed 21-Dec-16 23:38:02

If you wear varifocals, point your nose where you want to look, especially on the stairs. It really helps!

maggie1234 Thu 22-Dec-16 07:13:30

always use the bannister and wear slippers with backs, not mules

sandra63 Thu 22-Dec-16 08:01:12

What you wear on your feet can play an important part in stability. For ladies choose Mary Jane type flats with a strap across the top of your foot rather than a ballerina type shoe that does not stabilise your foot.

Patterry Thu 22-Dec-16 08:32:29

Take your head out of your mobile and look up at the world around you

scrapgran Thu 22-Dec-16 08:53:26

ALWAYS hold a rail when going up and down stairs adn concentrate in what you are doing.Keep a look out for loose paving slabs when out and about. Be careful,getting in and out of the bath - grab rails help

Pamaga Thu 22-Dec-16 10:27:13

I suffer from labyrinthitis so can have balance issues. I try not to rush around as I have a tendency to feel that everything has to be done NOW and do try to pace myself more. I am very careful about the disposition of the rugs/mats in our house, ensuring I have non slip backings under the mats and minimising the use of rugs. We are in a bungalow so don't have stairs to contend with but our kitchen door has steps leading to the back garden and these have a handrail on them which I use. If I have a heavy washload to take into the garden I tend to ask my DH to pass the heavy basket down to me rather than try to walk down the steps carrying it.

Countryfan Thu 22-Dec-16 12:19:58

Go Antipodean and stay in bare feet as often and for as long as you can manage.

Maranta Thu 22-Dec-16 12:40:04

I don't agree about going bare foot. I think you need shoes with a better grip than slippery skin, particularly on carpeted stairs.
I have a canvas bag with long straps so that it goes over my shoulders, which I use to carry things up and down stairs, leaving my hands free. It also has a zip so I can fill it with dirty washing and throw it down the stairs before me. I intend to get one of those insulated drink containers with a lid so my early morning tea can be carried up stairs safely too.

SusanCh Thu 22-Dec-16 12:46:41

Make sure that you're slippers are in good repair. My mother used to wear her slippers until they were falling apart. She had a few falls due to the soles hanging off or them being broken down at the back. For that reason, I always make sure my slippers are sound and buy new ones when needed.

volcanopete Thu 22-Dec-16 14:36:58

Take your time,identify hazards and put in place measures to eliminate risk if possible or at least minimise it.

maciv234 Thu 22-Dec-16 14:54:18

don't rush around take your time

Bella99 Thu 22-Dec-16 15:11:09

I don't allow any rugs because they can be lethal and we just bought my mother a safety ladder as she still insists on climbing but it has much bigger steps and hand rails and is so stable I'm going to get one for us too. We also bought several small wheeled tables which can be used to move heavier items around the home without blocking your vision when you are carrying them. It's all the little things but they are the ones that trip you up!

mollymockford Thu 22-Dec-16 15:20:37

Never be ashamed to go downstairs like a toddler - one foot on one step, then the second foot to join it, before moving one foot to the next step. If one leg is worse than the other, always make sure that this is your "downstairs" leg, as it puts less strain on it to keep it straight.

(And, I guess, bearing in mind that my husband and I were out for lunch again today - resist that third glass of wine!!)

YvonneBradley Thu 22-Dec-16 15:24:45

First of all I think it is vital to keep as fit as possible.I have taken up serious walking in order to 1)lose weight and 2) to keep my body as strong and supple as possible.I still hop on to chairs and walk downstairs without holding,but I am realising it is not really a good idea!The main thing is to be mindful of your limitations and try to reduce risks-rugs,remembering to lift your feet up more over door steps etc and just to slow down a little.Anyone can trip and fall but us older ones don't bounce like kiddies and a broken bone for us can be so debilitating.