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Staying healthy as you age helps prevent falls

November 21, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

While falls can happen to anyone, they can be life-altering for an older adult and can lead to loss of independence.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is encouraging everyone to take proactive steps to prevent falls. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in Simcoe Muskoka resulting in 22,500 emergency department visits, nearly 2,400 hospitalizations, and 200 deaths in 2022.

As a person ages, their bodies change and one of the main challenges they face is the risk of falling.

While fall prevention includes things like removing slip or slide hazards like ice on a walkway, wet floors, or scattered rugs around the home, many other factors play a role in healthy aging including the ability to maintain or improve health.

Taking steps to support your health and well-being as you age can be simple and easily included in your day.

This can include participating in regular physical activity or simple exercises such as walking with friends or taking a chair yoga class can help you maintain strength, balance, flexibility and overall health. These activities are key to reducing your risk of a fall.

Enjoying a variety of foods every day helps to improve your mood and maintains your health so that you can do the activities you enjoy. Drinking more water as you age will help you avoid dehydration, dizziness and bladder infections.

Having meaningful and enjoyable social interactions is just as important as physical activity for your well-being. Being physically active, eating nutritious meals and staying hydrated can help you to have the energy to spend time with friends and family.

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