It seems like one day we are galloping down the stairs and the next day we are tiptoeing down every step.
We take it philosophically.
What we often don't see, is that falling from steps or high places isn't usually the biggest problem. For adults 70 years old or older, falls from ground level can be life-changing, or even fatal.
In a ground-breaking study of falls, published in the Journal of Trauma, surgeon and researcher Julius Cheng found that 4.5 percent of older patients (70 years and above) died following a ground-level fall, compared to 1.5 percent of non-elderly patients. Elderly patients remained in the hospital, and the intensive care unit longer and only 22 percent were able to function on their own after they left the hospital, compared to 41 percent of non-elderly patients.
Cheng urges people to work on prevention first.
* Remove loose carpet.
* Install handrails for stairways and tubs.
* Get regular vision checks to keep your vision optimum, then beware of your own limitations.
* Wear low-heeled shoes with good friction. Avoid flip flops, slippers, and socks.
* Evaluate your medicines. Some could cause dizziness.
* Turn on the lights. There's no substitute for seeing where you are going.
* Try to keep active with walking or even housework that can keep your muscles tones.
Falling is not rare. The Centers for Disease Control says that one-third of individuals over the age of 65 suffers a fall each year.
There is good news, though. The CDC reported in 2013 that while falls accounted for more than 95 percent of hip fractures, the rate of injury is on the decline. There has been a drop of 20 percent for men, and 50 percent for women.
Awareness seems to be working.
