For most of your adult life, you don't have to worry about falling unless you're on a bike or a ladder. That may change when you get older, because more than one in four people over age 65 is injured in a fall every year.
It's not the aging process itself that makes falling more likely, but a number of different risk factors associated with age — factors which may or may not apply to you. Let's go over some things that might increase your chances of falling so you'll know what to watch out for.
There are several health conditions that could make someone more susceptible to falling. Mobility problems, such as difficulty walking or standing, are obvious culprits. Issues like migraines, inner ear damage, low blood pressure, and strokes can also result in balance problems. Likewise, dementia and other cognitive issues can increase one's chances of falling, as can medications that cause dizziness or drowsiness.
A person with impaired vision may also be more likely to fall, since they could have trouble seeing obstacles or accurately judging distances (between themselves and a chair they're trying to sit in, for example). Foot pain, as a result of health conditions or even wearing poor shoes, is another fall risk factor.
Clearly, there is a wide variety of health conditions that can make falling more of a concern, for different reasons and to different degrees. If any of these problems pertain to you, ask your doctor for advice about fall prevention.
Fall hazards in the home are not uncommon, and some of them are less recognizable than others. You'd probably notice broken steps, clutter on the floor, or cords that stretch across the room, but what about rugs that you might stumble over? Or dying light bulbs that are harder to reach than they used to be?
Some fall hazards manifest not because your home has changed but because you have. For example, maybe you never needed a handrail to go up and down the stairs, but now it's more important to have a fixture you can use to steady yourself.
Walk through your living space and look out for anything you might trip over or that may cause you to lose your balance. Take note of which hazards you can remove yourself (e.g., by getting rid of rugs or moving furniture) and which ones might require permanent home modification (e.g., having a contractor install grab bars in the bathroom).
The best way to determine your level of fall risk is to schedule an assessment with a qualified provider. A registered nurse or another kind of specialist can meet with you to go over your current health status and conduct various balance and stability tests — for instance, they might evaluate how long it takes you to walk 10 feet or how many times you can go from a sitting to standing position in 30 seconds.
You can also ask a professional to evaluate fall risks in your home. They'll be better able to identify problem areas and suggest modifications or store-bought items that can make your home safer.
The better understanding you have of your overall fall risk, the better chance you'll have of staying on your feet and out of trouble.
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