One fall away

It’s finally happened in my family. For those who read my column regularly, you won’t be surprised that I return again and again to the topic of falls and seniors. Falls can be devastating at any age, but for seniors a fall can change your life. Feel free to look up the statistics. The numbers don’t lie and the numbers will tell you to do all that you can to avoid a fall. Even if you have addressed everything possible to avoid a fall, it can still happen. It happened to my mom recently, and big changes in her mobility and her living situation were the result.

There are more hazards out there than just the scatter mats that I hope you’ve already removed from your home. Think about the shoes you wear. If your shoes don’t fit properly, or they have heels that you find you’re just a bit wobbly on, then send them to the Thrift Shop. We’d love to find a new home for your shoes.

Is there clutter in your home and especially on your stairs? Consider moving those things that are below knee level and stop putting that stuff on the stairs. These are easy fixes. Not so easy is having to carry a basket of clothing to another level in your home to do the laundry, or going up steps from the outside loaded down with bags of groceries. Handrails are essential and you need to have one hand free to grip the handrail. This means you might need to put your clothes in a bag instead of a laundry basket so you can still hold the handrail or that you make more trips to bring your groceries inside your home. As an aside, Community Care offers a grocery delivery program for those who need it. The volunteers will carry the goods into your house, too. Give us a call at 613.476.7493.

Using the gear is another favourite topic of mine. If you lurch from one piece of furniture to another then you likely need a cane or walker. Are you “too proud” to use a device to keep you safe? Think of how proud you’ll be on the floor looking up when you fall. Having an Accessible Parking Permit would also be helpful. Did you know that you don’t have to drive or own a car to get such a permit? It goes with you and can be used when you’re in any car. Anybody’s vehicle. As long as you’re in the car, too. Just search for “Accessible Parking Permit Ontario” and you’ll find all the info you need. It’s free. Print the form and take it to your doctor to sign. You’ll have the permit within three weeks of sending in the application.

There are other things you can do to help make life easier and safer as you age. Staying active and getting some exercise is good for everyone and especially as you age. We’re starting up beginner and intermediate Tai Chi so call the office to get on the list. The Wii Bowling program is both good exercise and fun, fun, fun, so call and get on that list, too. New people are welcome and with both Wii and Tai Chi and no experience is necessary. Community Care’s supervised indoor walking programs are another good option. Walk in Wellington or Picton. There are lots of other programs to keep you active. Check the Activity Calendar on www.communitycareforseniors.org and see what suits your fancy.

Stay active and stay safe.

Debbie MacDonald Moynes is Executive Director of The Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association.