Why seniors are more likely to slip and fall

If you identify as a senior, you have a higher chance of suffering injury because of a slip-and-fall accident than the rest of the general population. In fact, falls are the single biggest reason seniors go to the hospital each year, and AgingCare.com also reports that falls are the leading cause of injury and death among people within your age group.

What risk factors do you face as you age that make you more likely to take a tumble? Such issues might include:

Vision problems

Like much of the rest of your body, you can expect the condition of your eyes to deteriorate over time. Your risk of falling may increase if you suffer from some type of age-related eye disease, and you also face a higher risk of falling if you do not always wear glasses or contact lenses as prescribed by your doctor.

Use of prescription medications

As your age increases, you may need to take more prescription medications. For many seniors, such medications include antidepressants, sedatives and antipsychotics. These medications can cause imbalance and dizziness. Moreover, such side effects may compound if you take multiple prescriptions at the same time.

Decrease in activity level

Your level of physical activity is also more likely to slow down as you age. With less exercise, you can experience a decrease in muscle tone and bone mass. A lack of regular activity can also impact your level of flexibility, which can raise your chances of a slip-and-fall accident.

Environmental obstacles

If you have diminishing vision, if you take certain prescription medications or if you stop exercising as much as you once did, you may become more susceptible to environmental obstacles that can cause you to fall. Improperly maintained sidewalks, walkways and stairs are some examples of environmental factors that may lead to a fall. Insufficient lighting and a lack of proper safety equipment, such as guard or handrails, can also place you at a higher risk of a fall-related injury.

While wearing glasses or contacts, refraining from mixing prescriptions and exercising regularly can reduce your risk of falling, there is only so much you can do when others act negligently or otherwise fail to maintain safe conditions.