Visiting the doctor

If someone you care about is 65 years old or older, remind him or her to visit the doctor, as they should be reviewing their risk for falls at least once each year.

It is important that everyone, but especially people in this age group, pays attention to their healthcare at home. They should not wait until the doctor asks them about their fall risk. A person, particularly someone who is elderly, should tell his or her doctor about any time they have fallen, whether or not they were hurt.

Falling or almost falling gives a doctor important information about a person's health. Falls do not always mean that a person is getting weaker. Someone can fall as a side effect of the medicines he or she is taking or how much medication of those medicines they are  taking to manage their healthcare at home.

Changes in eyesight can also make a person more likely to fall. If an older person you know does visit the doctor after a fall it is important for them to say if they were wearing glasses or contacts when they fell. It's also important to tell the doctor when they last had an eye exam. They may also be asked about the time of the fall because for example eye problems can make seeing clearly harder at night.

If it is necessary to visit the doctor, they may also ask about the person who fell's house. This is because sometimes there are ways to make the home safer, even if it is just increasing the light bulbs to 100 watts to make things easier to see. The doctor may also ask what the person was doing when he or she fell. Simple changes like moving pots and pans or dishes in cabinets can make a fall less likely. The doctor may  ask about any pets and talk about safety. The question is not whether to keep the pets, but what can be done to live together safely.

Remembering to prioritise your healthcare at home can help prevent  falls. Helping people staying on their feet and preventing falls helps them stay at home.