• What are my risks?
• 30-40% adults fall once a year
• 30% of these individuals will lose independence-will go to nursing home or will need family member to take care of them
• This risk increases every decade after 65 years: 30% in women between 65-69 years, 50% at 85 years
• Women 85 years and older are 8 times more likely to fall as compared to women who are in their 60s and 70s
• Women are twice as likely to fall as men
• Caucasian women over 65y are twice as likely to fall that black women of same age

How do I know that I am at risk?

• You have been tripping often
• You think you need a cane or a walker but you are too embarrassed to use one
• You are avoiding going to the mall or grocery store
• You don’t like to get up to walk
• You have arthritis, osteoporosis
• You are on medication to treat blood pressure, depression, or medication for pain relief: some of these medicines can make you DIZZY
• You cannot look at different aisles in a grocery store because that makes you imbalanced
• TALK TO YOUR PHYSICIAN IF YOU HAVE HAD MORE THAN 2 FALLS IN 6 MONTHS

How do I modify my falling risks?

• Progressive weight training
• Repetition of exercise Every day, 30 minutes exercise
• Visit Physical Therapist
• End clutter in house
• No sitting more than one hour
• TV and exercise: good idea
• Friends exercise together
• Add Balance exercises
• Leg exercises
• Lose weight
• Imagine walking, exercising
• No to smoking

How does my body react to aging?

• Arthritis makes your joints stiff
• Muscles become weak
• Sensation, vision and hearing not as strong
• Body unable to react quickly to environment
• Speed of walking decreases
• Multiple problems set in that make us weaker: Parkinson’s, diabetes, heart and lung problems
• Hard to hold urine, cannot make it to bathroom on time
• More active men likely to fall too
• Dangerous over-activity:
  • Pruning a tree on a ladder
  • Changing a bulb
  • Walking without cane