It becomes increasingly important to actively prevent slips and falls as we age. Having lost some of their strength and resilience, our bones and joints can be more prone to injuries, leaving them more susceptible to sprains and breaks. Here are some easy, but useful, tips to prevent slipping, tripping, and falling.

Design a Safe Home Environment

Given the significant amount of time we spend at home, it's crucial to purposefully design our living spaces to reduce the risk of accidents and falls. This includes:

• Ensuring hallways and rooms are free from clutter and cords, while also securing rugs to the floor using tape or non-slip pads.
• Maintaining adequate lighting, particularly in areas prone to accidents such as bathrooms and stairwells. Motion-sensor lights are both useful and cost-effective. 
• Installing handrails on staircases and grab bars in the bathroom, particularly near the toilet and shower, to provide additional support and stability.

Stay Aware of Your Surroundings

Once you adopt the habit, staying aware of potential tripping hazards can become second nature. These may include:

• Uneven sidewalks or pavements
• Bags, cords, unsecured rugs, and protruding furniture legs
• Sticks and slippery leaves when outdoors
• Wet surfaces, particularly after rainfall

Wearing appropriate footwear with suitable traction is also important, both inside and outside the home. 

Strengthen Your Balance

Incorporating easy daily exercises into your routine is an excellent way to enhance balance, strengthen muscles, and reduce the risk of falls.

Here's an easy exercise to try:

• Stand next to or behind a stable chair without wheels.
• Shift your weight to one leg, lifting the other leg off the floor.
• Maintain balance for several seconds, up to a minute.
• Switch legs and repeat the exercise for the other side.

For added stability, stylish and functional canes or walking sticks are a useful option. With various styles available to suit different tastes, they offer both aesthetic appeal and enhanced stability.

Learn How to Fall Safely

There are techniques for falling that can help minimize impact and prevent injuries. Here’s how:

• Aim to land on a soft part of your body, like your bottom, to cushion the fall.
• If you're catching yourself with your hands, bend your elbows to absorb the impact and protect your joints and wrists.
• If falling forward, turn your head to the side to protect it; if falling backward, tuck your chin to prevent hitting the back of your head.
• Whenever possible, roll and move with the momentum of your fall rather than abruptly stopping yourself. This can help reduce impact on your joints and bones.

Prevent Falls By Living in a Senior Living Community

Living in a senior living community helps prevent falls with:

• Thoughtfully maintained outdoor areas, ensuring pathways are regularly cleared of ice, snow, and leaves.
• Intentionally designed community spaces and residences featuring wide walkways, elevators, and step-free entrances for easy access.
• On-site facilities dedicated to enhancing muscle strength and balance. The full-service, 24-hour Fitness and Wellness Center at Canterbury-on-the-Lake offers exercise classes and workouts.
• Canterbury-on-the-Lake also offers on-site outpatient rehab therapy, including help with walking, stretching, and light weight lifting. 

Enjoy A Hassle-Free Lifestyle at Canterbury-on-the-Lake

Strengthen your body and nourish your mind and spirit with our wide range of activities and programs. Enjoy the luxury of free time with Canterbury-on-the-Lake’s maintenance-free lifestyle. Contact us to learn more about our community.