Ten top tips for staying steady Worried about

Ten top tips for staying steady

Worried about falling? There a simple things you can do to stay steady on your feet. Here are our top tips help you improve your strength and balance and feel more confident.

1 Ask about your medication • Certain medicines can make you feel faint or affect your balance. Let your GP know if you ever feel like this. • Your GP can advise you how to reduce your risk of a fall whilst taking medication, change your dose or look at alternatives.

2 Eat sensibly, drink plenty • Keeping your strength up helps maintain your balance and reduce falls. A good balanced diet is essential for your general health and well-being. • Dehydration can make us feel sluggish, induce headaches, constipation, impair our mental alertness and put us in a bad mood. Take small, regular amounts of fluid throughout the day - about eight glasses.

3 Keep as active as you can • Regular exercise is a very important factor in retaining our strength and balance. • Consider activities such as walking, swimming, water workouts and gardening.

4 Wear good fitting shoes • Consider changing your footwear to reduce a chance of a fall. • High heels, open-back footwear, floppy slippers and shoes with slick soles can make you slip, stumble and fall. • Buy properly fitting, sturdy shoes with non-slip soles. • Avoid walking in your socks, tights or stocking feet – this can also cause you to slip and fall.

5 Look after your feet • Foot problems can stop you getting out and about. It can also affect your balance and increase your risk of falling. • Report problems such as foot pain or any decreased sensation in your feet to your GP or practice nurse. • Keep your toenails short. If you find reaching down to cut your toenails difficult, try asking a family member for help.

6 How safe is your home? • Reduce clutter, remove loose rugs. • Keep walkways and high traffic areas clear. • Store clothes, dishes, food and other necessities within easy reach • Immediately clean spilled liquids, grease or food. • Use non-slip mats in your bath or shower. • Make things brighter - improve your lighting

7 Use walking aids if they have been issued to you • Your safety is important as is your ability to maintain independence by getting out and about. The use of an issued walking aid will help to keep you steady.

8 If you have a fall seek advice from a professional If you’ve had a fall or are worried about falling, tell your GP or community nurse, even if you feel okay. There could be many reasons why and, equally, many ways to help you feel confident again.

9 If you drink alcohol consider its effect • Alcohol decreases the body's ability to absorb calcium needed to strengthen our bones. • Some prescription drugs can have an adverse effect when combined with alcohol. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.

10 Have your eyes and hearing checked • Regular sight tests and reporting ear pain or difficulties with hearing can identify problems that could affect your balance and coordination. • Eye tests are free for everyone over 60 and for any problems with your ears, speak to your GP.

1 3 5 7 9 Ask about your medication Keep as active as you can Look after your feet Use walking aids if they have been issued to you If you drink alcohol consider its effect. 2 4 Eat sensibly, drink plenty Wear good fitting shoes 6 How safe is your home? 8 10 If you have a fall seek advice from a professional Have your eyes and hearing checked