Fall Prevention in the Outdoors

What are the most significant things an older person can do to improve their health and wellbeing? Some common answers to this question might be quitting smoking or drinking – or taking up moderate exercise like walking.

Yes, a simple walk outdoors can bring numerous health benefits, from improving mood to lowering blood pressure and keeping bones strong. Other kinds of outdoor exercise can also help older people to reach their physical activity goals. And, of course, a walk to a friend’s home or the shops can be important for maintaining social bonds and independence.

But all these benefits of being outdoors also bring challenges – including the risk of falling.

Because falls can be so harmful to the elderly, this is a risk that shouldn’t be ignored. However, it can be managed and reduced by some steps that can improve seniors’ safety when they’re outdoors. In this post, we’ll describe what older people can do to help lower the likelihood of falls while they’re outside.

Falls at home versus outdoors

On this blog, we often discuss the problem of falls at home and how they can be averted. Are falls outdoors different?

Yes and no. The steps seniors can take to avert falls outside may be different, but some core concepts are the same. It’s all about understanding why falls happen.

For example, a significant portion of falls happen because an older person could not adequately see where they were stepping. For this reason, a home safety checklist might recommend additional lights indoors or reflective strips on the edges of steps.

Obviously, these aren’t changes that a person can make to an environment that isn’t their home. But seniors can still address the root issue of poor vision that causes falls by:

• Going for regular eye examinations
• Wearing sunglasses when needed
• Avoiding walking outdoors in twilight or night-time
• Carrying a small flashlight that they can use to illuminate the ground in front of them if needed

Now, let’s explore how to address other potential causes of falls outdoors.

Preventing slipping and tripping

For an older person with slower reflexes, weaker bones or more fragile health in general, a small slip or trip can turn into a serious injury from a fall. That’s why indoor fall prevention measures involve reducing slipperiness on floors and securing rugs so that they don’t cause tripping.

Outdoors, this part of fall prevention focuses more on footwear. Ensure that your shoes fit properly and have soles that grip the ground well, reducing the likelihood that you’ll slip. Seek a professional fitting to ensure your shoes are neither too loose nor too tight – remembering that it is possible for the shape of feet to change over time. Avoid high heels and shoes that aren’t secure on your feet, like flip-flops. You’ll also want to make sure your shoelaces, if you have any, are tied neatly and not dangling.

Older people who have swollen feet or ankles should ensure their shoes still fit properly. Extra-wide shoes are available at specialist retailers.

Using supports and aids

A very common adaptation in older people’s homes is the installation of railings and grab bars along stairways and anywhere an elderly person might need help supporting their weight, such as in the bathroom.

A similar function is performed outdoors by walking aids such as walking sticks, canes, Zimmer frames and rollators. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of one of these aids if you need them. Ensure that if you are using a walking aid, you have received a professional’s guidance on the height of your aid. Using a stick that is too low or too high might cause you problems.

Some walking sticks include small seats that fold down if they’re needed. Rollators also typically have a seat. These features are great because they help seniors take a short break if they’re tired from walking. That way, an older person who doesn’t have the endurance to take a continuous walk can still enjoy the outdoors. Plus, a readily available seat might prevent an older person from continuing to stand while they’re worn out, which could lead to a fall.

Strength

Maintaining strength and agility can also help prevent an elderly person from falling outdoors. Older people may experience muscle wasting, so it’s extra important for them to continue to walk and maintain their strength in their legs and throughout their bodies.

Of course, not all forms of exercise are appropriate for all seniors. It’s best to check with your GP if you’re not sure what types of activity are safe for you.

Assessing risks

The phrase “discretion is the better part of valour” just means that not engaging in a risky situation is better than braving its dangers.

Along the same lines, it’s sometimes better for an older person to avoid risky terrain and surfaces rather than struggle to walk through these places safely. So, an elderly person should be aware of the ground around them and simply try not to walk in areas where there is excessive ice or snow or an uneven surface that could cause tripping.

How SureSafe protects seniors both indoors and outdoors

In the past, personal alarms for the elderly often worked only in a person’s home. They had a base unit that plugged into the wall and functioned strictly within a given distance from the base unit.

While some alarms of this type are still on the market today, personal alarm technology has raced far ahead. For example, a SureSafe mobile alarm with GPS tracking works just as well outside the home. In fact, its GPS function allows family members to track the wearer as they go about their day outdoors.

That’s hugely important in situations where the alarm’s wearer has fainted, fallen or had a medical crisis outdoors. With one touch of a button, the wearer can call for help instantly, and the GPS will allow helpers to find them. Plus, an alarm with fall detection is designed to notice when its wearer has fallen. If it believes a fall has occurred, it calls for help all on its own.

In the end, protecting seniors from the harms of falls is all about reducing risks. Steps like using a walking stick can help to reduce the likelihood of falling, but not completely prevent it. Likewise, fall detection technology can’t guarantee it will notice every single fall. But when a lot of sensible measures like using walking aids and personal alarms are implemented together, they all work to reduce the chances of danger that seniors may face from falling.

Curious to learn more about how a SureSafe alarm can protect an older person while they’re outdoors? Just reach out to us on 0808 189 1671, through live chat, or by requesting a call back. We’d be happy to discuss how our alarms work and which alarm could be right for you.