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Falls prevention in your home

Falls can happen to anyone, but they’re more common, and the consequences more significant, as we get older. Falls can result in a trip to the hospital or a move into residential care (an aged care home).

• The good news
• Support services
• Organisations that can help
• Fall proof your home
• Home maintenance schemes
• Keep yourself mobile
• Manage your health problems
• Independent Living Centres (more information)
• Medical and personal alarms
• Transition Care Program (more information)

The good news

• most falls are preventable.


• injury from falls can be minimised.


• falling does not have to mean a loss of independence.


• get your free booklet to help you reduce your risk of falling: Don’t Fall For It. Falls can be prevented, by phoning the Aged Care Information Line (more information) on 1800 500 853.

Support services

Some older people are more likely to fall than others, especially if they’ve fallen in the past six months, but there are many things you can do to reduce your risk of falling. Most falls are preventable!

Talk to your doctor about any falls you’ve had. Don’t just dismiss them as clumsiness. Falls can be a sign of a new medical problem, muscle weakness, balance problems or medication side effects. It will help your doctor if you give him or her information about where you fell, the time of day you fell, what you were doing and how you were feeling just before the fall. Your family may be able to fill in the details if you can’t remember.

Ask your doctor to organise help from allied health care professionals (more information). Talk to a physiotherapist about physical activity to improve your balance, flexibility, and strength. A physiotherapist can advise you on activities that will suit you, and how to manage any pain you might have. A walking aid, such as a stick or frame, may help increase your steadiness and confidence. But please note: it’s important that walking aids are properly adjusted and maintained.

Organisations that can help

For more information about your medical condition, how to improve your health, and information about support organisations in your area contact:

• Commonwealth Carelink Centres (more information)


• Nutrition Australia (more information)


• Diabetes Australia (more information)


• National Heart Foundation


• your local library


• your local council


• Arthritis Australia (more information)


• Health Insite, or


• your local community health centre (more information).

Fall proof your home

You can reduce the likelihood of a fall and make it easier to manage daily activities by making your home and surroundings as safe as possible.
Read more: About safety in the home

If you want to make your home more fall-proof, the Master Builders Association (MBA) is an association of builders and subcontractors who can put you in touch with the right builder in your area. The MBA also runs a Housing for Life Service and a free booklet, which can help you to make your home safer and more secure.

Home maintenance schemes

Home maintenance schemes are run by local council or state governments and are designed to help you make your home safer and easier to manage. Contact the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre on 1800 242 636.

Keep yourself mobile

Physical activity is important to everyone – no matter if you’re 8, 18 or 80 years old. Inactive or unfit people tend to have poorer balance and weaker muscles, which all increase the risk of falling. Added to this, if you feel unsteady you’re less likely to do much walking. When you walk less your muscles get weaker, your joints gets stiffer and your balance gets worse.

You can find out about safe ways to stay fit in your area by contacting:

• The Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853, for your free copy of Choose Health: Be Active, a physical activity booklet for older Australians


• Commonwealth Carelink Centres, which can put you in touch with physiotherapists or accredited physical activity programs in your area


• your doctor


• your local library for booklets and videos on exercise for older people


• your local council for information about activities in your area, and


• Community Health Centres and day therapy centres for physiotherapy services.

Next step: Community Care Service Finder

Manage your health problems

Some health problems make it more likely you will fall. The most common of these are:

• stroke


• Parkinson’s disease


• arthritis


• postural hypotension (low blood pressure)


• dizziness


• diabetes


• depression


• dementia


• incontinence, and


• poor nutrition.

Even short-term illnesses like the flu, or surgery, can temporarily increase your risk of falling. The better you and your health professional manage your health problem, the less likely you will fall.

Eyesight

Your eyes help you to see obstacles, judge steps and keep your balance, but from the age of 40, your eyesight gradually worsens and this can lead to an increased risk of falling.

You can find more help or advice for poor eyesight by contacting:

• Vision Australia


• Occupational Therapists (Commonwealth Carelink Centres or OT Australia can provide details of services in your area)


• Optometrists Association Australia.

Many services provided by optometrists are provided free through Australian Government support.

Medicines

Some types of medicines can increase your risk of falling. You may also be at greater risk simply because you take different medications or the dose is incorrect. Moreover, medications taken for anxiety, depression or sleeplessness can cause dizziness, confusion and unsteadiness. Talk to your local pharmacist or doctor if you’re concerned about the medication you are taking.

Safe footwear

As we age, our feet can change shape and lose some feeling. This changes the way we walk and affects our balance. Also, painful or swollen feet can make it difficult to walk and some shoes or slippers can increase the chances of falls.

Here’s what you can do to maintain healthy feet:

• see a podiatristi or doctor if you have painful or swollen feet, tingling or pins and needles in your feet, or if you have any changes in the shape of your feet (for example, bunions)


• wear comfortable, firm-fitting, flat shoes with a low broad heel and soles that grip.


• don’t wear poorly fitted slippers or walk in socks


• if you have difficulty finding suitable shoes because of foot problems, ask your podiatrist for the names of specialist shoe stores, and


• ask your podiatrist or physiotherapist to suggest ways to improve circulation, decrease swelling and reduce pain in the legs and feet.

You can find help or advice on foot health through:

• Commonwealth Carelink Centres


• The Podiatry Association Council (more information), which can provide names of podiatrists in your area


• Local community health centres and Day Therapy Centres, which may have podiatrists

Independent Living Centres

If you’ve had a fall you may be interested to know about Independent Living Centres. These centres display a comprehensive range of products and equipment to assist with daily living activities. You, your carer and friends are welcome to come and try out products and equipment and decide which are most suitable for your needs. You can also contact our occupational therapistsi on our info-lines for free advice on the types of solutions that are best for you.

Medical and personal alarms

Make a plan of what to do in the event of a fall or another emergency. Work out:

• who to call for help


• how to call for help, and


• how that help will get to you.

There are many types of devices to raise the alarm. Your choice of device will depend on many things, such as who can come to help, the distance over which the device works, how easy it is for you to carry and use the device, and its cost.
Read more: About personal and medical alarms

Transition Care Program

If you’ve had a fall and you’ve been admitted into hospital make sure you talk to your nurse about your discharge plani. The Transition Care Program, to be established in 2007, will provide you with low-intensity therapy and support as part of an ongoing but slower recovery process, giving you time to determine what level of care you will require in the future.
Read more: About the Transition Care Program

This page was last updated on: 24 September 2007

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