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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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.