THIS week (September19-25) is Falls Awareness Week. The theme is keeping moving.
As part of the week, NHS Borders is encouraging people to consider why falls might happen and what can be done to prevent them.
The aim is to help to reduce the risk of falls among all age groups, and help older adults live without fear of falling.
One of the main things you can do to reduce your risk of having a fall is keeping moving and staying active.
Doing activities that you enjoy such as walking, swimming and gardening can help strengthen your muscles, which helps you to maintain good balance and reduces your risk of falling.
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Regardless of age, there are also many other things that you can do to reduce the risk of falling both inside and outside of your home.
Here are some things you can do to prevent trips and falls:
Look after your eyes – get your eyes and prescription glasses checked regularly and ensure that your glasses are cleaned regularly
Look after your hearing – problems with hearing can affect your balance, so if you notice a change, get it checked as soon as you can
Look after your feet - wearing shoes or slippers that fit you well reduces the chances of you tripping and having a fall
Manage your medication – some medicines have side effects that can affect your balance, so it is important that you talk to your GP if you feel faint, dizzy or drowsy
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Check your home for hazards – checking your home for things that could cause a fall, such as poor lighting, clutter, loose rugs and cables reduces the chances of tripping
Tell someone if you have fall - it is important to tell someone such as your GP or another health/social care professional, as they can help you reduce the chance of you falling again
Sarah Horan, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals, said: "Falls are the biggest cause of serious injury and accidents to older people.
"Thankfully, falling does not have to be an inevitable part of getting older. There are many things that we can all do to reduce the likelihood of having a fall.
"I would therefore like to encourage everyone to think and plan as they get older and make some simple changes to ensure that they continue to have a safe and healthy life at home and live confidently without fear of falling.”
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