Fit Living

I recently read an article from American Bone Health that discussed the impending increase in falls and fall-related injuries among seniors. The National Council on Aging refers to this as the “Silver Tsunami.”

It’s really a simple concept – the huge baby boomer generation is arriving at older adulthood, and those years, as we know, are associated with an increase in falling. As this huge group ages, it’s likely that we’ll see a lot more falls.

The article the reviews some of the familiar risk factors:

1. Vision problems
2. Physical limitations
3. Side-effects from medication
4. Environmental obstacles that can cause one to trip

Here’s what you can do to make sure you’re not part of the Silver Tsunami:

* Talk with your doctor about your medications.
* Have your eyes checked.
* Do balance exercises several times per week.
* Strengthen your legs.
* Remove tripping hazards like electric cords, throw rugs, frayed carpet, etc.

Understand that while it’s impossible to eliminate your risk of falling, you can greatly reduce your chances with a proactive approach.