According the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, one out of four adults who is sixty-five years and older trips and falls. In fact, falls are responsible for the most injuries and fatalities among seniors. Don’t fear- the good news is that falls can easily be prevented with just a few easy-to-remember tips! 

​Be aware of your surroundings. Remove all clutter from your pathways—including throw rugs and electrical cords. Arrange furniture so that you always have a clear walking path.

​Install sturdy handrails on your stairs so that you or a loved one will have something to keep you steady as you walk up or down a staircase. To prevent falls in the bathroom, install grab bars in the shower or tub or use a shower seat with a hand-held shower head.

Rearrange the contents of your cupboards to be within easy reach so that you won’t have to strain to reach a kitchen item that you use on a daily basis. NEVER stand on a chair to reach something high.

Make sure that your lightbulbs are bright enough so that you won’t be stumbling around in dim light. At night time, use night lights in your bedroom and bathroom and be sure to turn on the lights if you get up at night.

​Take your time. Don’t rush to answer the phone or door, but instead, take time to carefully and safely get to your destination. If you feel dizzy, stand up slowly. It’s also a good idea to sit on the edge of the bed before standing up when you first wake up.

​Wear well-fitted, non-slip shoes with low heels and good support. Make sure laces are always tied and short enough to prevent tripping. Don’t walk in your socks because socks have no traction and they make it easy to fall when walking on tile. 

​Have your doctor or pharmacist review all of the medications that you are taking (even over the counter drugs, vitamins and supplements) and always keep a list of your current medications. Some medications have side effects (like dizziness) that can lead to a fall. 

Don’t lift or carry anything that’s too heavy. When unloading your car, stay safe and take many trips to unload your items. If you overload yourself, it becomes hard to see where you are going and therefore, it’s easy to lose balance.

Ask your doctor or therapist for safe exercises that build strength and improve balance. These exercises and stretches not only help improve your physical health, but they also help your mental health as well!

Take care of your feet! Trim toenails and check feet every day for sores, bunions, calluses, warts and numbness. If your feet hurt, you will be less active, which could increase your risk for falls.
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With these tips for preventing indoor falls, you can live a safer, healthier, and more enjoyable life!  For more information about preventing falls, please check out these additional tips and a fall risk assessment or call 612-721-2491 for more information.

​Check out this delightful interview that Martin Luther’s Marysue Moses (Dimensions Program Coordinator) conducted with David Cobb, BCC, Director of Spiritual Health at Martin Luther Campus. David Cobb’s experiences at Martin Luther explain why Spiritual Health is very important for residents at Martin Luther.

​One day, I walked into the Martin Luther Care Center with a big purple cast on my arm and one of our residents (I’ll call her Peg) asked me what happened. “I have a ruptured biceps tendon,” I explained. Peg winced for a moment, then grinned mischievously. “Now you know what it’s like for those of us dealing with injuries and health problems!” she said. 

Since I had a cast put on my arm, it’s been a challenge to button my shirt, tie my shoes, slice a watermelon, etc. There’s a lot of activities that I took for granted when I could easily do them; like riding my bike, mowing the lawn, serving communion, and more.

As I’ve gone through this process, it is not hard to imagine how difficult it is for our residents to adjust to their health problems and injuries. It's especially hard when their challenges are more permanent and their mind, body, and spirit don’t heal like they used to.

Any unexpected shift in autonomy, sense of identity, and connection to others indicates a potential source of spiritual distress.
 
As a Chaplain at the Martin Luther Campus, I have the privilege of helping residents and their families identify distress and we develop ways to cope with the challenges that the residents face. Some residents have given up a home, a job and their role in providing for their family, responsibility for a pet, control of the kitchen, and more. These losses can trigger anger, shame, despair, anxiety, loneliness, or fear.
 
We are here to help with these losses and we provide Spiritual Care, Pastoral Care, Interdisciplinary Care, Weekly Worship, and more for all of our residents at Martin Luther. The Martin Luther Campus supports residents, families, and staff to integrate Spiritual Health with their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

​I’m not happy about my injury and it’s going to take a long time to heal. However, my injury is making me more aware of the spiritual distress our residents may feel in their new transitions and this better prepares me to help and encourage them through their new journeys.
 
Peg asks about my arm each time she sees me now and this reminds me that a lot of our residents have a spiritual need to care for others, just like we care for them. We are not just care-givers for our patients, but care partners with them as they head into the next stage of life and Spiritual Growth.
 
 
At the Martin Luther Campus in Bloomington, MN, we offer many spiritual health programs. We know firsthand how spiritual health can make an impact in your life or the life of a loved one.