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

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.

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 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.

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

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!

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.

Buy a bungalow

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!)

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!

don't rush around take your time

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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