Viva Vitality: It’s Falls Prevention Month

By Melissa Schlenker on November 14, 2025.

Have you ever experienced a fall? Thinking back on the situation, was there anything that could have been done to prevent it? Falls are incredibly common. According to the Injury Prevention Centre 1 in 3 older Albertans fall each year.

Falls are also the leading cause of hospitalization for injury for individuals over the age of 65. No two falls look the same and most are caused by a variety of factors. Understanding the underlying causes is key in preventing future falls.

What are some strategies for preventing falls?

Get active! Try to incorporate 30 minutes of activity into your day at least five times per week. You don’t have to tackle all 30 minutes at once. Try dividing the time into smaller, more manageable blocks. Try to make a goal of including exercises that challenge your balance as well as build strength. Check out findingbalancealberta.ca for a variety of simple, home-based exercise ideas.

Have regular medication reviews. As you age your health needs change, so it’s important to have your pharmacist or doctor regularly review your medications. When it comes to medications, remember:

– Always follow instructions and doses. Don’t stop medications without speaking to your healthcare provider.

– Only use one pharmacy for prescriptions. This can help flag any medications on your list that may interact with each other.

– Keep an up-to-date medication list in your purse/wallet as well as at home.

– Do not share medications.

Have your vision checked. Did you know older adults with low vision are 2.5x more likely to fall. While it’s important to have our vision checked annually, here are some tips that we can follow throughout the year to help take care of our eyes:

– Ensure eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions are up to date.

– Wear sunglasses, even in winter.

– Report blurred or double vision to your optometrist.

– Keep rooms well-lit.

– Instal nightlights in hallways and bathrooms.

Keep your feet healthy. Not only is proper footwear key to preventing falls but keeping your feet healthy and pain-free will also help you to keep your balance. Whether you do your own or receive footcare from a health professional, addressing issues such as ingrown toenails, dry skin, open sores, redness or corns is an important way to keep up your foot health.

Eat well and stay hydrated. When thinking about preventing falls, nutrition is an element that can often be overlooked. Following the “healthy plate” method from Canada’s food guide is one way to ensure you’re receiving the variety of nutrients you need to keep yourself energized. Hydration is equally important in falls prevention. Make a goal to consume 6-8 cups of fluid each day, as staying hydrated not only helps us stay steady on our feet but also helps with energy, concentration and mood.

Remove environmental hazards. Keeping floors clear and free of clutter, getting rid of throw rugs and replacing them with mats with non-slip backing in entryways and bathrooms, ensuring all staircases have handrails and are properly lit, and installing grab bars in the bathroom are all ways we can lower our risk of falls around the home. If you have questions about what types of adaptive/safety equipment might be helpful for you, speak with an occupational therapist.

Falls can happen any time to anyone. The good news is they are preventable and making simple changes to our lifestyle can significantly reduce our risk.

Melissa Schlenker is a health promotion facilitator with Primary Care Alberta. For more information on falls prevention visit findingbalancealberta.ca.

21
-20