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

Switch the light on even if you are just going into - or through - a room for a moment - don't be tempted to save money and move about in the dark.

Don't rush about! If the phone rings and you miss it, don't worry. If it's important they will leave a message. Same thing for when the door bell rings.

I think it is sometimes just a case of being familiar with where things are around the house and just taking a deep breath and think before you go downstairs.My Mother (many years ago ) moved into a house with an open plan staircase and we all were horrified but she never once took a tumble in all the years she lived there..and she did like a tipple or three.Always a good idea to make sure visitors or youngsters don't leave things on the stairs too.

Buy a bungalow

Take up Tai Chi it not only helps improve your balance and teaches you to 'root' yourself so that you are steadier on your feet, you also learn to relax, and so are less likely to hurt yourself if you should fall.

Try to remember it's probably best not to run downstairs quite as fast as you used to, or you may end up in a heap!

Remove all loose mats and rugs. Always put the light on if walking around the home, especially if you have a pet - accidents can so easily happen

I have found that if I stand still for a few seconds after getting up from a chair I manage to walk without wobbling. It drives me mad having to stand and wait, even though its only seconds, but I feel much more confident walking. Once I am walking I am ok.

My DH is always losing his balance indoors and out doors and injuring himself which need trips to A&E and sometimes an overnight stay. He has vertigo since a head injury in 1996 and a bad back following a spinal fracture in 2006, he takes a lot of medication and I think that it what affects his balance. I am always telling him to take it slowly and think ahead about what task he is doing and planning.
I have a bad back as I have 3 prolapsed discs and most days I can do anything I want but one wrong move and I can be in agony and immobile for days. So I too have to follow my own advice as above.
We live in a ground floor apartment so no stairs to tackle - we moved here in 2007 after it was very apparent that DH was not going to be able to manage stairs.
I agree with the vari-focal thing, i have to take mine off if I am walking around as the ground appears further away than it is

I find regular activity/exercise - but not flogging oneself to death - helps. Yoga is brilliant - helps muscles, bones, relaxation, even balance. Also eating well and keeping the mind active, learning new things helps.

Wear sensible shoes and keep the house as clutter free as possible.

Never put things on the stairs. I used to do this a lot, saying to myself that I'll take it up later. This would result in loads of stuff up one side of the stairs always ready but never getting moved. I've nearly broken my neck a few times.

Keep all areas in the home well lit especially stairs don't wear slippers with an open back,don't use rugs that do not stay firmly fixed.Going outside wear well fitting shoes or boots with a flat heel and good grip and take extra care if icy out.Always use the hand rail when using stairs.If you feel unsteady or dizzy rest for a while and try again later and take it slowly it is never a good idea to rush.

I live in a bungalow so that's a bonus! But don't drink too much alcohol and wear sensible shoes!!

Looking where you put your feet and taking your time. I have too many mis-haps through rushing. Sometimes by standing on something to reach a high cupboard and not making sure I plant my firm centrally and firmly. Also, I have to stick to good flat footwear these days.

It is so easy to slip over in the shower, so always make sure that you have a rubber bath mat in place to prevent tripping and nasty falls.

I suffer from lots of falls so I keep my phone in a case on a string around my neck all the time so I can call my neighbour if I need help to get up. They have a spare key but I also have a key safe so that if paramedics need to get in they can get in without getting someone to break in. I had a serious fall in 2004 & had to drag myself through the house to let them in, my foot was hanging down like a hand from the end of my leg but I had no choice but to do it so I'm now prepared

my fall was down some stairs and it happened because I was wearing old slippers which did not fit properly and had stretched and had little if any grip. So my tip would be buy some decent footwear that fastens snugly around your foot so you are safer going down and up stairs, and around the house. With good shoes you have better contact with the floor and less likely to land on it, and please slow down, more haste less speed. And merry christmas.

Wearing solid strong shoes when walking the dog helps me to keep from falling; it's also important to check pavements are even. The ones in our village are broken and uneven, and it's easy to slip.

Some medications can also make you dizzy, abd it's best to check with the pharmacist or GP before trying anything new.

It's easy to miss a step or lose balance, and it makes common sense to have regular eye and hearing checks, as loss of hearing can affect balance.

Many falls happen in the home, and it helps to keep the home well lit and free of clutter, checking for any trailing wires.

A fall can happen to anyone, but it's best to allow yourself a little extra time to do things when getting older.

Simple, just slow down, there's no need to run or rush really, it's never that important.

I think it is a good idea to get in the habit of not leaving anything on the floor that can be tripped over, an abandoned slipper is a prime example of this. Also have hand rails wherever possible, good lighting, no loose carpet or mats.

Clear away the unnecessary rugs. Wear rubber sole shoes and do not climb chairs.

Sounds daft - but slippers - never used to wear them, just socks, but the grip they provide helps a lot

Always hold the handrail when walking down stairs, don't have rugs in areas you walk and avoid storing items on the ground

Take everything at a sedate pace...the only time I have fallen was when I was rushing.
Keeping floor areas clear so there aren't any trip hazards is a good safety measure.