Adopt A Healthy Lifestyle Plan And Prevent Hip Fracture Accidents From Happening

Healthy lifestyle habits adopted in early adulthood build a higher peak bone mass and therefor reduce your risk of osteoporosis in later adult years.  The same measures may also lower your risk of falling while improving your overall physical and mental health.  This preventative approach applies to any age, as well.

home-safety-walk-through-guideExercise

Regular exercise strengthens bones and improves balance.  Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking or brisk walking, encourages the body to increase bone density.  By increasing the body’s overall strength, this can dramatically reduce the likelihood of falling, a leading indicator to hip fractures.  Commit to exercising at least 20 to 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.  Start gradually and gently.  Since balance deteriorates with aging, balance training and exercise will also reduce your risk to fall.

Do Not Smoke

You preserve bone density by not smoking- it’s that simple.

Avoid Excessive Alcohol Use

Excessive intake of alcohol can dramatically impair your balance thus making a fall or similar critical injury much more likely.

Home Safety Assessment

Identify home hazards that can lead to falling by taking a walk-through of each room in your house.  Each room harbors home hazards specific to that environment (i.e. the bathroom is different from the living room).  Basic modifications include the removal of throw rugs, clearing of pathways, remove floor clutter, position electrical cords along walls, create bright mood and task lighting, clear excess furniture, night lights and more.  First Response System offers older adults and their family members with a Fall Prevention Home Safety Guide that provides simple step-by-step checklists to identify and modify these home hazards.

Annual Wellness Appointment

Schedule an Annual Wellness Exam (on your birthday-it’s easy to remember) with your primary physician and/or health care providers and specialists.  Review medical history, chronic ailments, fall risk screening, gait strength and balance tests, exercise program, footwear and clothing, vision test and eye wear, supplements and medications.

Review & Manage Medications

Review all over and under-the-counter medications and dosages.  Consolidate all medications to one pharmacy provider.  Attach a personal medical data form to your refrigerator door and glove compartment in car.

Personal Medical Alert System

In the event of an accident or injury at home, invest in an affordable First Response at-home medical alarm system and compatible help alert button necklace or bracelet and 24/7 emergency monitoring service.  Local emergency responders will arrive at the front door at the simple press of your help alert button.