How Can I Prevent Falls at Home?

Wear Suitable and Well-Fitting Clothing and Footwear

The type of clothing and shoes you wear may be increasing your risk of falls

To avoid this:

• Don’t wear flowing clothes that may trip you up - use your local North Leeds tailors, such as Serious Stitchin’ Guiseley, to alter any clothing that might be too long
• Avoid long necklaces, earrings and scarfs that could get caught on items such as door handles or trail and trip you up
• Choose socks with rubber grips on the sole
• Invest in a shoe horn to make putting shoes on easier
• Ensure shoes fit well and provide a good grip
• Choose shoes which provide room for thick socks in cold weather to keep your feet warm and allow for good circulation and feeling in your feet
• Avoid walking throughout the house without any slippers on
• Choose slippers with good grip on the soles. They should have backs and velcro fastenings
• Maintain good foot health by trimming toenails regularly
• Visit your local chiropodist, such as The Foot People - Guiseley Podiatrists to ensure your feet remain in good health. You can find recommendations for a variety of checked and vetted local services on The Leeds Directory

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

It’s important to maintain a nutritious diet at any age, as the food and drink we consume directly effects our physical and mental health

Here are some small changes you can make to your diet that can be directly linked to falls

However, you can find lots more information about what a balanced diet looks like on our Healthy Eating Page Here

• Review your Vitamin D levels - Being unable to get outside regularly can cause a Vitamin D deficiency due to a lack of exposure to sunlight. This can cause bones to become thin, brittle, weak or misshapen. Talk to your GP about Vitamin D supplements which can be an effective solution
• Prevent dehydration - There are lots of reasons why the elderly may become dehydrated, such as forgetting to drink enough or not feeling thirsty. Keeping a water bottle with you throughout the day can be a simple reminder to drink more water. Try alternating your beverages between water, flavoured water or diluted squash, if you struggle to keep up with your water intake.  You can also eat more fruit, sugar free jelly and soups which will help further.
• Increase your protein intake - Protein helps build muscle and keep muscles strong, but it can be difficult to get enough protein in your diet. Take a look at the NHS website which contains plenty of information on how you can include more protein in a healthy, balanced diet
• Exercise regularly - engaging in regular physical activity helps improve your strength and balance. You don’t have to run a mile every day - try activities such as walking or some short exercise programmes such as 10 minute pilates or chair yoga. These are great exercises to improve muscle strength and reduce the risk of falling over.  To learn more about exercise and fall prevention exercises visit our Keeping Active article Here