Fear of Falling Getting You Down? Here’s Some Advice

Has the fear of falling got you “down”? If so, it’s time to get back on your feet. Here are some tips to get you there. 

First, know that you’re not alone.

Lots of seniors live with the persistent fear of falling, whether it has happened to them before or not. Among senior citizens who have never fallen, approximately 50% are afraid they will take a fall – whether that worry is imposed on them by loved ones, or they feel an intrinsic fear of falling for their own reasons. Then there are those seniors who have fallen before; naturally, they fear it will happen again. Around 80% of them, as a matter of fact.

Second, take comfort in your caution.

In some ways, the apprehension you feel over the possibility of falling is not necessarily a bad thing. Taking an unexpected fall in your daily life and potentially injuring yourself is nothing to mess around with, so it makes sense to be careful while going about your business. But when it crosses over to severely restricting your daily activities, that’s when there’s a problem. The de-conditioning that comes from avoiding healthy activity can lead to de loss of muscle memory, strength and balance. And that can lead to – you guessed it – a fall.

Now, take reasonable measures to protect yourself.

What does that mean? It means engaging in exercise that improves your balance and flexibility: yoga, dancing, power walking. It means making sure that everything you need is within reach, like medications, food and the remote control. It could also mean a caregiver spends more time at home with you.

But what if you love your independence? What if you’re a senior in good health, with no restrictive vision or hearing problems? In that case, one of your best measures against the fear of falling may be a medical alert system. Pennsylvania seniors and their loved ones can learn more about these systems by calling Park Security. We will be happy to answer your questions.

About Park Security Systems

Living with an elderly parent is certainly a joy, but it can also be a challenge. With the right precautions, however, you can make the experience much easier on everyone involved. To learn more about medical alert systems in Altoona, Pennsylvania, call Park Security today at (814) 667-4371.