June is National Safety Month so we’ve been celebrating appropriately by educating as many people as possible about ways to be safe, particularly for those we serve over the age of 65. We kicked off the month with a live segment on Facebook detailing the many ways you can improve safety in your home. If you missed it, just click this link!

The numbers don’t lie. The truth is, one in three adults over 65 will experience a fall every year — that’s about 12 million people experiencing a fall annually. What’s more? An estimated two thirds of those people will experience another fall within six months.

There’s a lot of false information out there. The following are the most common myths we hear in our communities. How many of these have you heard? Some might surprise you!

MYTH: “Falling is a normal happening as you get older.”

Falling is NOT a normal part of aging. It can be avoided by improving home safety, managing medications and exercising.

MYTH: “If I limit my activity, I won’t fall.”

Physical activity actually decreases your risk of falling by building strength, and improving balance and range of motion.

MYTH: “As long as I stay home, I can avoid falling.”

Over half of all falls take place in the home. We advise you remove all clutter and invest in the appropriate equipment to reduce your risk such as a walker, a cane, grab bars, non-skid surfaces, stools, a grabber and more.

MYTH: “Muscle strength and flexibility cannot be regained.”

While muscle is lost as we age, exercise can restore strength and flexibility.

MYTH: “Taking medication will not increase my risk of falling.”

Certain medications can cause dizziness or sleepiness which results in falls. Take precaution when using a new medication and report symptoms to your doctor.

MYTH: “I don’t need to get my vision checked every year.”

Vision is a key risk factor for falls and needs to be checked annually. Those with vision impairments are twice as likely to experience a fall.

MYTH: “Using a walker or cane will make me more dependent.”

Walking aids are designed to maintain and improve mobility, therefore increasing independence and quality of life.

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Specially designed to increase our customer’s comfort and confidence, members of the Greystone Home Health team will perform an individualized home safety assessment and offer specialized advice and training to keep you safe. Our services can be found in eight different areas of Florida.

Daytona: 386-257-6601

Gainesville: 352-240-7778

The Villages: 352-205-8514

Orlando: 407-855-5728

St. Petersburg: 727-490-0230

Tampa: 813-814-4025

Sun City Center: 813-419-5048

Sarasota: 941-926-7100

For more information, give us a call today!