Weekly Newsletter:

October 1, 2025

Beginning of Fall: Let’s Prevent Falls - All Year Long

If you missed our recent webinar on Fall Prevention, watch the recording below →

Why Fall Prevention Matters

Did you know: “Every 14 seconds, an older adult visits the emergency room for a fall-related injury. Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among people aged 65 and older — with about 1 in 4 reporting a fall each year.”

If you are over 65, there’s no better time to take steps to prevent falls.

Here are some highlights and helpful resources to get you started

Preventing Falls for Older Adults:

In a Nutshell

Exercise, exercise, exercise!
Get your vision checked — and corrected if needed.
Wear proper shoes — both inside and outside the house.
Remove trip hazards in your home.
Ensure good lighting throughout your home.
Practice getting up and down from the floor — before a fall happens.
Talk to your doctor — if you’ve had a fall or are afraid of falling, ask about physical or occupational therapy.
Stay healthy — your overall health impacts your fall risk.

📋 Check Your Fall Risk

If you’re over 65, take this quick CDC survey: STAY INDEPENDENT — to see if you’re likely to fall. If you score is 4 or more, let’s look in more depth at what you CAN do to prevent falls.

🏡 Known Fall Hazards at Home

Use this CDC checklist: Check for Safety — to identify and address common risks:

Stairs: Railings, clutter, lighting
Kitchen: Are items easy and safe to reach?
Bathroom: Slippery surfaces, getting in/out of the tub
Bedroom: Nighttime trips to the bathroom
Floors: Clutter, cords, or pets underfoot

Safety outside, in the community:

Wear supportive shoes (check out options here)
Dress for the weather
Carry a cell phone for emergencies
Wear your glasses if prescribed
Stay aware of your surroundings (watch for uneven ground, cracks, or debris)

Safety Tips for Exercising Outdoors: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercise-and-physical-activity/safety-tips-exercising-outdoors-older-adults

What Counts as Enough Exercise?

According to the CDC, older adults should aim for:

1) Aerobic Activity:

At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week (e.g., 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week)
OR 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity
OR a combination of both

2) Muscle-Strengthening Activities:

At least 2 days per week

3) Balance-Improving Activities:

Include exercises that improve stability

💡 Tip: Any exercise is better than none! Don’t let perfection stop you — just start somewhere.

Are you healthy enough?

Getting enough sleep
Getting enough exercise
Drinking enough water
Eating the right food — enough protein, good digestion
Positive outlook — social contacts, friends, family
No recent illness, hospitalization
Reviewed your current *medications with your primary care provider

*Talk to your primary care provider about your medications to make sure you are not taking medication that potentially can increase likelihood of falls. AKA - BEER’S LIST: https://thecarepartnerproject.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Beers-List.pdf

AFTER A FALL:

Tell your primary care provider and close friends, or family (Don’t keep it secret!)
Hopefully you’ve practiced getting up from the floor — if you are not hurt!
Take stock of why you fell. Lighting? Curly edge of rug, caught your foot? Dog or cat tripped you? Too tired? Recovering from illness? Doing too much? Bad shoes?

But don’t give up doing what you do, what you love to do, what you need to do! 💜

Review all the above:

Are you staying fit?
Is your home designed for your safety?
Are you healthy enough to be doing what you did when you fell.

Community Resources

Try Bingocize — a fun way to combine movement and social connection!
CDC Patient & Caregiver Resources — educational materials and tools.
National Council on Aging (NCOA): National Falls Prevention Resource Center

DayBreak Resources:

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please let us know if you have feedback for us on this or other subjects related to caregiving and aging.

— Susan Musicant, Geriatric Physical Therapist, DPT

Injury Prevention Specialist for DayBreak

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