As Memorial Regional Health’s Assistant Trauma Coordinator, Megan O’Toole helps care for injured patients. Falls are often the culprit, especially for older folks.

“People fall,” O’Toole said. “And when elderly people fall, they can suffer a head injury or break a hip, after which their health often declines rapidly. So, we’d like to prevent those falls as much as we can.”

O’Toole has been a nurse at MRH on and off for 13 years. Most recently serving as a Flight Nurse before her current role in the Emergency Department, she’s passionate about helping keep her neighbors safe. Educating her community about fall prevention is at the top of her list.

“A lot of our trauma patients are fall patients,” she said. “And once a patient falls, it seems like it keeps happening. But with a few simple measures, many falls can be prevented.”

Here are O’Toole’s tips for staying upright and active.

Do a medication review with your doctor

Some prescriptions can make you dizzy or sleepy, such as those for blood pressure and nerve pain. Others increase the risk of bleeding, like anticoagulants. And some medications interact with each other in ways that can heighten fall risk. “So make sure to talk to your provider about your medications and whether you need to be taking all of them,” O’Toole said.

Work on strength and balance

Walking and doing simple exercises can make older people much stronger and more stable quickly, O’Toole said. She suggests practicing getting in and out of a chair a few times a day, standing on one foot with support close by as needed, doing seated exercises with bands, and stretching for better mobility.

For those who need a little more direction or supervision, community exercise groups, physical therapy and/or home health visits can be a good starting point.

“If you can work toward being able to get up off the floor by yourself, that’s a great goal and a good indicator of overall strength and balance,” she said.

Get your eyes checked

If your prescription isn’t up-to-date, you’re more likely to stumble and fall, O’Toole said. She also suggests considering wearing distance-only glasses for walking outside, as bifocals and progressives can sometimes make it harder to clearly see tripping hazards on your path.

Shore up home safety

A few little changes can make your home a lot less of a fall risk. Remove area rugs and cords from all walking paths, O’Toole said. Have grab bars installed in the shower or tub as well as next to the toilet. Use a nonslip mat in the shower or tub. Be sure there are handrails on both sides of any stairs. Store items in places you can access without a stepstool. And amp up all lighting in the home. Brighter bulbs throughout will help you see better, and seeing better means fewer falls.

Venture outdoors with caution

“We see a lot of falls from ice and curbs this time of year,” O’Toole said, “among people of all ages.” She suggests wearing low-heeled shoes with good traction and keeping your hands free by wearing backpacks or crossbody bags instead of carrying items in your hands. Using rock salt to melt icy trouble spots is also essential.