Page 12 - Demo

Sunday, October 19, 2025 | Special Advertising Section 12Consider the bathroom%u201c[The bathroom] is the most dangerous place for older people,%u201d Ness-Cohn says. %u201cYou can slip, and if you fall, it%u2019s all hard surfaces.%u201d Have grab bars installed in and around showers or bathtubs. Get a shower chair. not where she wanted to be. Perhaps she won%u2019t need them at some point, but for now, they keep her active and social.%u201cIt%u2019s about my comfort and well-being,%u201d Prater says. %u201cIf you don%u2019t like the look of them, decorate them. Let them show your personality.%u201dMarching ordersNess-Cohn says that as we age, our gait can change. We don%u2019t lift our feet as high. That can lead to getting a toe caught on a rug or a stair tread. To avoid this, practice marching, address any balance issues with your provider %u2014 go to a physical or occupational therapist, if necessary %u2014 and work on your hip and ankle flexibility during your exercise routine. Just getting up from a seated position can help. Do a few sets of 10 every day from a stable chair, says Roraback-Carson.She also notes that you should never wear slippery socks or go barefoot in the house. Use house shoes with a good tread or nonslip socks or slippers. Remove throw rugs as they are a tripping hazard. Also, ensure your outdoor shoes have a good tread on them.It%u2019s not just locomotionHands, wrists, elbows and shoulders can also stiffen over time. Ness-Cohn recommends changing out rotating doorknobs for levers and switching twist faucets to something you can knock with an open palm. Exercise the joints as much as you can to prevent further atrophy. And get some grabbers. There are two varieties: a grasper in which both sides close, and a claw with one fixed side. Both are useful. These tools alleviate the need for stepstools, which Roraback-Carson says older people should avoid, and bending over to reach something, which can lead to dizziness when you stand back up. Both can increase the risk of falling, she says.You don%u2019t have to stay seated, but it%u2019s there for support or balance. And if you use nonslip decals, make sure they don%u2019t come loose and cause a tripping hazard. Get rid of throw rugs and anything you can catch a toe on.Most important, Roraback-Carson says to talk to providers about mobility.%u201cAnticipate changes, seek help,%u201d she says. %u201cThe majority of my patients experience them.%u201d The goal is to prevent falls, which can lead to frailty %u2014 a loss of muscle, slowness, weakness and impaired movement. %u201cStay as active as you can for as long as you can,%u201d she says.Many senior and local community centers offer classes designed for those seeking to maintain mobility. For fall prevention, Roraback-Carson prefers the STEADI tool kit from the CDC. %u201cIdentify the barriers you have to engaging in physical activity and find something that works for you,%u201d she says. %u201cIs it mood? Is it pain? There is something that will work.%u201d Continued from previous page Installing grab bars and a shower chair can help prevent falls. (Getty Images)Instead of using step stools, try a grabber for out-of-reach items. (Lisa Jaffe / Special to Best Years)Bestyears REAL TALK