Preventing falls - what to ask your doctor : MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Many people with medical problems are at risk of falling or tripping. This can leave you with broken bones or more serious injuries. You can do many things to make your home safer for you to prevent falls.
P Below are questions you may want to ask your health care provider to help keep your home safe for you.

T Questions
P Am I taking any medicines that will make me sleepy, dizzy, or lightheaded?
P Are there exercises I can do to make me stronger or improve my balance to help prevent falls?
P Where in my home do I need to make sure there is enough light?
P How can I make my bathroom safer?
- Do I need a shower chair?
- Do I need a raised toilet seat?
- Do I need help when I take a shower or bath?
P Do I need bars on the walls in the shower, by the toilet, or in the hallways?
P Is my bed low enough?
- Do I need a hospital bed?
- Do I need a bed on the first floor so I do not need to climb stairs?
P How can I make the stairs at my house safer?
P Is it OK to have pets in the home?
P What are other things that I may trip over?
P What can I do about any uneven floors?
P Do I need help with cleaning, cooking, laundry, or other household chores?
P Should I use a cane or a walker?
P What should I do if I fall? How can I keep my phone near me?
P Should I purchase a medical alert system to call for help if I fall?

T Alternative Names
P Fall prevention - what to ask your doctor; What to ask your doctor about preventing falls

T References
P American Geriatrics Society Health in Aging Foundation. Falls Prevention: Basic Facts and Information. Updated March 2012. Healthinaging.org web site. www.healthinaging.org/aging-and-health-a-to-z/topic:falls. Accessed February 8, 2017.
P Phelan EA, Mahoney JE, Voit JC, Stevens JA. Assessment and management of fall risk in primary care settings. Med Clin North Am. 2015;99(2):281-293. PMID: 25700584 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25700584.
P Rubenstein LZ, Dillard D. Falls. In: Ham RJ, Sloane PD, Warshaw GA, Potter JF, Flaherty E, eds. Ham's Primary Care Geriatrics. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 20.

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T Review Date 1/14/2017
P Updated by: Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology and Health Care Ethics, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

T Related MedlinePlus Health Topics
- Falls

