Preventing falls - what to ask your doctor
Fall prevention - what to ask your doctor
Many people with medical problems are at risk of falling or tripping. This can leave you with broken bones or more serious injuries. You can do many things to make your home safer for you to prevent falls.
Below are questions you may want to ask your health care provider to help keep your home safe for you.
I Would Like to Learn About:
Questions
Am I taking any medicines that will make me sleepy, dizzy, or lightheaded?
Are there exercises I can do to make me stronger or improve my balance to help prevent falls?
Where in my home do I need to make sure there is enough light?
How can I make my bathroom safer?
- Do I need a shower chair?
- Do I need a raised toilet seat?
- Do I need help when I take a shower or bath?
Do I need bars on the walls in the shower, by the toilet, or in the hallways?
Is my bed low enough?
- Do I need a hospital bed?
- Do I need a bed on the first floor so I do not need to climb stairs?
How can I make the stairs at my house safer?
Is it OK to have pets in the home?
What are other things that I may trip over?
What can I do about any uneven floors?
Do I need help with cleaning, cooking, laundry, or other household chores?
Should I use a cane or a walker?
What should I do if I fall? How can I keep my phone near me?
Should I purchase a medical alert system to call for help if I fall?
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References
American Geriatrics Society Health in Aging Foundation website. Falls prevention. www.healthinaging.org/a-z-topic/falls-prevention. Updated October 2017. Accessed February 27, 2019.
Phelan EA, Mahoney JE, Voit JC, Stevens JA. Assessment and management of fall risk in primary care settings. Med Clin North Am. 2015;99(2):281-293. PMID: 25700584 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25700584.
Rubenstein LZ, Dillard D. Falls. In: Ham RJ, Sloane PD, Warshaw GA, Potter JF, Flaherty E, eds. Ham's Primary Care Geriatrics. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 20.
BACK TO TOPReview Date: 2/6/2019
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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