Fall Prevention: Why it Matters—and What You Can Do

Fall Prevention: Why It Matters — and What You Can Do

Falls are more common than many people realize. Every year, about one in three people over age 65 will experience a fall. Falls in older age are a leading cause of injury and lost independence. They’re not just “accidents,” but signals that something in the balance of health may be off. 

To understand how to prevent falls, it helps to appreciate the extraordinary complexity of the system that keeps us on our own two feet. When you walk, dozens of subsystems work together seamlessly: your eyes provide visual cues about terrain and obstacles; tiny sensors in your ears detect head motion and orientation; and millions of receptors in muscles, joints, tendons, and skin collect feedback about the forces acting on you. The brain integrates all of these inputs in real time, so that you remain upright even when the ground gets bumpy, or a lazy cat blocks your path to the kitchen.

Anything that disturbs this delicate balance can increase the risk of falling. Long-term medical conditions can also interfere. Dementia or depression, for instance, may reduce attention and slow reaction times. And medications are often overlooked culprits. Many list “falls” or dizziness as well-known side effects.

So what can you do to reduce the risk? Here’s a four-pronged, practical approach.

1. Careful Management of Medications

Start with a medication review. Every drug you take should be evaluated not just for its benefit, but also for its fall risk. At Highbridge, we work one-on-one with patients to reduce or eliminate medications that unduly increase fall risk, always weighing the risks against therapeutic benefits. In many cases, modest dose reductions, switching to safer alternatives, or discontinuing redundant drugs can make a big difference. This isn’t “one size fits all” medicine — it’s a tailored, careful process guided by an expert doctor.

2. Strength & Balance Training

Improving muscle strength, agility, and balance is one of the best defenses. Physical therapy focused on leg strengthening and balance is a powerful approach to preventing falls.  Group classes like EnhanceFitness or SilverSneakers (widely available through Medicare) provide structured workouts that emphasize balance, coordination, and strength. Studies consistently show that these kinds of exercise programs help prevent falls.

3. Decluttering the Home

Even if your body is ready, your environment must be forgiving. Small hazards — loose rugs, cluttered pathways, uneven thresholds, poor lighting, cords across walkways — can undo all your efforts. Careful attention to these details can help keep you safe. Or, if you need a little help deciding what should go and what should stay, or what to do with your Great-aunt Jenny’s antique armchair, consider contacting Caring Transitions. They cover Fairfield and Westchester Counties and offer specialized services to de-clutter, reorganize, and mitigate trip hazards in older adults’ homes. Whether it’s rearranging furniture or removing loose rugs, their work helps create a safer environment.

4. Assistance with Challenging Activities of Daily Living

Despite your best efforts, some activities might remain challenging: bathing, shopping, cleaning the top of the bookshelf. That’s where reliable home health aide support can fill the gap. LifeWorx specializes in providing the kind of hands-on assistance for those high-risk tasks — reducing the chances of a fall while helping you maintain dignity and independence.