BILLINGS, Mont. – A local organization in Billings is taking steps to help seniors prevent falls, a common concern among older adults. According to the CDC, “One in four adults ages 65 or older will experience a fall this year. A significant portion with 20 to 30 of those who fall once will experience another fall within the same year.”
Lauren Spring, a physical therapist at Home and Care Home Health, shares some preventive measures to help seniors stay safe. “Cognitive impairment, another situation that can result in a fall, you know improper shoes and footwear get caught on a carpet or something like that, that’s a problem. And then the last thing would be environmental factors, so you would have like inadequate lighting, maybe loose throw rugs, you know, no grab bars in the house,” Spring said.
Spring suggests daily exercise, working with a physical therapist on posture and gait deviations, and examining living environments for hazards. Assistance with shoveling driveways and clearing paths of ice or obstacles is also recommended. She encourages annual hearing and vision tests to further reduce fall risks…