Slips, Trips & Falls. Any advice?

I sympathise. My mother used to say "no, no, I always hold onto things."

Yeah. Right. Except when she didn't.

The comforting thought is that with every one of the hospital treatments and the doctors' visits, her record gets longer and longer. So when mother is telling whoever's doing the assessment that she's tickety-boo and fine on her own, you smile sweetly and hand over the file.

And the icing on the cake is that her denial of there being any problem is in itself indicative of her not having a proper grasp of her own situation.

This does not solve the misery of being a frequent flyer at your local A&E and GP surgery where you sit hangdog beside your bruised and bloodied mother while casual passers-by eye you censoriously and purse their lips. The only ray of sunshine there is that maybe three in ten passers-by will know exactly what you're going through and give you a sympathetic smile instead.

I hate to sound pessimistic, but, often when the falls start, they continue and things get worse. And, I don't think many of the falls seniors have is due to tripping on something. That's just my personal belief. Have they checked her balance? My LO fell often. Her balance was so poor that there was no wonder that she fell so much. The only way a person who has poor balance can keep from falling is to always keep hold onto walker, cane or hand rail, but, that's something that seems to be very challenging for seniors for some reason. My LO forgot to use hers. Others just don't want to use them.

I am a bumble foot with inherited clumsiness from my mother and her mother. My last fall was due to the dog wrapping her cable around my feet and taking off, resulting in my breaking two ribs.

Recently, I posted a vent on here about whether others think it’s old age or stress that’s causing it. Some suggested I take a class in improving my balance. It was also suggested I see my PCP and get myself checked out. Even an ear infection can cause dizziness which leads to falls. Could she need new glasses if she wears them?

No no one wants to admit that they’re getting old and have become a stumbler-bumbler. I sure don’t. But at some point she will realize that pain from her falls and causing a fuss with emergency services isn’t worth it and she will ask for help.

Might it be better to give up the idea of walking and concentrate on getting around in a wheelchair?

It's very frustrating.

Do you tell the doctor that she DOES fall?

Can you install hand rails?

Someday, when this is my problem, I will want to stay in my home as long as possible.

I’m sure she is trying her very best. This must be so terrifying for her.

Both of my parents were fall risks. I really believe glasses had a lot to do in their case, as Ahmijoy had mentioned. Then later it was more age related as they got into their late 80's and into their 90's. Meds can make one lightheaded. And refusal to use a cane or walker inside the house.

Both my parents were looking through the reading portion of the bi-focal glasses when walking and that caused everything to be a blur. I remember my Mom tapping her foot around trying to find a step or find a curb.

My sig other doesn't fall, but he sure can step into things :P Again, bi-focal related.