Steer clear of a fall
WITH one in three adults aged over 65 sadly having at least one fall a year, increasing to one in two of those aged over 80, it is wise to do all you can to protect fragile bones and stay steady.
After all, every five hours an older person is killed by an accidental fall in the home.
At home, it is wise to take precautions against a fall, such as increasing lighting and keeping the floor clear, advises Age UK.
Other sensible advice includes having regular sight tests and reporting hearing difficulties, which can identify problems with your balance.
Wear well-fitting shoes and slippers and report any foot problems.
Ensure you get enough vitamin D and calcium for your bones and check if any medicines might be making you dizzy.
And if you’ve had a fall or are worried about falling, tell your GP. There are many ways to rebuild your confidence.
WASH YOURSELF HAPPY
THE bathroom is the culprit in more than 70 per cent of home injuries — and for many people, the scary manoeuvre of getting in and out of an unforgivingly hard, slippery bath is the biggest worry of all.
A grab rail and bathmat are the basics of safer bathing. A step, seat, bath lift or inflatable bath cushion can be added to help ease you in and out of the water more comfortably.
But to truly transform bath times, an adapted bath, shower or wet room is the way to go.
In the past five years or so, adapted bathrooms have cast off their former frumpy image and are now so stylish that they have lost all stigma.
Behind the swish design, they cleverly conceal a multitude of discreet safety features, ranging from low entry and slipresistant flooring to seating and handrails. And the advantage is that they can be fitted in just a day or so, bringing safer bathing in easier reach.
STAIRS WITHOUT A WOBBLE
WORRIED about having a wobble on the stairs? When your mobility is compromised, a fall is more likely and the staircase is the last place you want this to happen.
So now might be the time to start thinking about acquiring a stairlift, whether new, reconditioned or rented from a major supplier. Instead of viewing the stairs as a daunting obstacle to climb, you will be able to move about the home without effort.
A seatbelt keeps users safe when the seat is moving — and it should swivel
gently at the top for a safe landing. It means that more people can continue living as they have always done before, and friends and family will be reassured that the stairs are once again safe.
PUT YOUR DANCING SHOES ON
WE will shortly be shuffling into Two Left Feet Week, when the aim is to get more of us up on our feet to experience the joy and benefits of dancing.
Dance improves posture, balance and co-ordination, while toning muscles. Not only that, but it gives greater spatial awareness, agility and flexibility, which are important at any age, according to the organisers at herbuzz.com.
But it especially helps to be something of a twinkletoes as we grow older — not least to maintain mobility and cut the risk of a fall.
So whether the Strictly stars have inspired you to attempt a cha-cha, or you just want to join a gentle dance exercise class to music, next week is the time to overcome that negative little voice in your head that says, ‘I’ve got two left feet’ — and just go for it!
Recent research shows that nifty over-50s who exercise can live five years longer than the sedentary. Oslo University Hospital found that both light and vigorous exercise extends life expectancy. Official advice in Britain is to build up to two-and-a-half hours of moderate exercise a week.
The British Heart Foundation says that every ten minutes count and that making simple, more active changes to your daily routine can set you on a path to improved heart health.
So, if you are fit enough, do try that dance, strength and balance, tai chi or exercise to music class, such as those run by extend.org.uk.