How to prevent falls

The best thing I ever bought was a stepstool, very stable with non slip feet, I use it to reach wardrobe shelves and top cupboards in the kitchen.

A friend of mine stood on her wicker wash basket to reach something on top of the wardrobe and amazingly fell and broke her leg.

Don't climb up onto the toilet seat to wash the top of the bathroom cabinet.

Fell flat on my face in the street this morning, pulled over by my dog. I ache all over and he is in the doghouse

Do wear your glasses when walking 100 yards in the dark to the letter box.

I have a nice step stool but it lives downstairs and I was upstairs - logical isn't it? BIG bruise on my calf which I have to conceal from DH or he will ask how I got it although - brilliant idea flash I'll tell him he kicked me in bed in the night. I think he'll accept that.

Make sure DH's feet are not in your way when getting up from sofa. Cue one of those runs across sitting room where your top half moves faster than your feet, and a broken shoulder.

Katek - that's exactly what happened to me the other day!
And it's happened before - once going into the bank I tripped on the metal strip at the entrance. But someone caught me then

My godmother (Must be the wrong side of 90) climbed on a chair on top of a table to reach a high cupboard. Somehow she didn't break anything in the fall and she has promised the neighbour who rescued her that she won't do it again!

Take up tai chi and go to classes regularly. Scientific research backs up the practice. Also do some general exercises - rotate the ankles, stretch the feet, stand on tiptoe, practise standing on one leg (hold onto something first of all of course), walk as much as possible and keep moving!

I like your thinking Teetime

Ouch Teetime
Good that you can laugh about it.
I recommend arnica for the bruise

And as for preventing falls
I can only think of staying bed all day with a bed pan

If you are pushing 80 and present a wide surface area to the breeze, do not step blithely out of your Reykjavic hotel in a canyon of a street when wind gusts of 91 kilometers per hour are forecast and the rain is travelling horizontally.

No, not me (just got back) but my friend and companion. She was lifted clean off her feet and thrown to the pavement a couple of yards on, and she is no lightweight sylph. Nothing worse than a bruise or two, I am glad to say.

My largish bedroom stool has three legs, it seems quite stable but it has a tipping point which I found when I went to get something from the top of the wardrobe and went backwards, cracking two ribs.

Have you just been to Iceland Elegran ? I am sooooooo jealous . I would love to go. Please tell us more.

Sorry about your friend mishap but glad she/he is okay. Phew.

Friend's mishap . Elegran but not at the mishap

May I answer?

Iceland is lovely. The flights up and back are more reasonable certain times of the year as they try to fill flights. We went in the winter. The weather was quite mild. Fascinating mix of ocean, mountains, glaciers, water falls, thermal features and the continental divide.

The Icelandic horses are interesting and plentiful. Learning about the economy and attempts at being self sufficient was fascinating. The lagoon and Northern Lights were spectacular.

Bellasnana that happened to me on Weds and I've now got a fractured pelvis

Oh dear to all these falls.

I am prone to tripping myself. I think I will save this thread for the ideas on it.

I asked a friend over christmas about this subject as I know she is a bit prone too. She said that her christmas present to herself, was getting some shoes and boots retread or whatever it is called.

Christine
The last time this was discussed I think someone suggested wearing shoes etc with turned up toes to avoid tripping.
Something like elf shoes, but not so extreme.

I popped over to my 80-year-old neighbour to bring her a little something for Christmas, and asked her why she was limping a bit. She had just fallen down the stairs that morning and had spent the morning in the hospital. Nothing was broken (except the plate she'd been carrying).

She had been up the stairs to get a plate of biscuits (no idea why they were upstairs) to serve with coffee as one of her sons was visiting and had caught her foot on a rug at the top of the stairs. The children rallied round (it's a huge family) and unanimously and vociferously (they are very loud!) told her to get rid of all the silly rugs.

My personal solution to that, by the way, would be to go barefoot, especially in the house, as you can then feel little obstacles in the way. Of course, this brings other hazards with it.

Chrietinefrance I'm so very sorry you had such a nasty fall. Do hope you will make a speedy recovery.

In my case, all I fractured was my pride, but I am bruised and achey today. Have booked an appointment with a trainer for Weds so I hope he can give me some pointers on how to control my wayward dog

I can't go barefoot, am supposed to wear trainers which I find quite alarming on the stairs as they seem to catch and grip. So I am walking downstairs like an old lady (which I suppose I am).
Cherrytree I know someone who fell off the bed and broke a bone!

Christinefrance and to all who have had falls and are suffering.

My motto now is 'Concentrate'.