When we were younger, we could fall and get up. Maybe we skinned our knees or damaged our pride, but now we fall and break.

My world seems inundated with falls and breaks: I broke my wrist in July, my sister fell twice and cracked her head, and a friend fell and broke her leg while dislocating two knee replacements. Another friend fell, landed in a bush, and lay there for at least 10 minutes before a neighbor heard his calls for help. He broke an ankle. A young woman fell on the ice and broke her tailbone.

One thing I know for sure, having a broken body hurts. It also disrupts my life, steals my confidence, and wraps my choices in fear. In all this snow and ice, I’m nearly a hermit. I feel over the hill old when walking bent over, scanning every step and clinging to someone’s arm to prevent crashing and shattering.

I don’t have the answers, but I do have some ideas—most I need to practice:

Wear shoes with a highly textured sole, and consider boots that help keep your ankles from turning

Wear secure-fitting shoes – they might not be cute, but neither is a scar or cast.

Never be too proud to use a cane or walker for stability

Keep your mobile phone on your body. If we fall in the bathroom and it’s in the kitchen???

With stairs, use a railing, and don’t have your arms full

While walking, keep your hands out of your pockets.

Do strength and balance exercises

A stationary bike is safer than being on the streets

Rid your home of throw rugs

Never get on a ladder (the fire department will replace your smoke detector batteries)

Buy a device with a button you can push, AND wear it always

Buy a watch that alerts emergency care when you fall

Check in with a buddy every day

Keep your head attached to your feet

Rid your house of clutter

On the ice, keep your knees bent and walk like a duck

Don’t get in a hurry–a few minutes late is better than a fall

We all need to be smart, not proud or afraid; conscious of our moves, not impulsive; slower, not faster; stronger, not weaker; and focused, not distracted.

Do what you can to prevent falls—the alternative is not a goal at any age.

Until the next time: Live while you live.

Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of “My Clients…My Teachers,” and the blogger and writer of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.

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