Photo by Eugene Chystiakov on Unsplash
The underlying message in the term “fall prevention” is avoid falling at all costs. Talk about fall prevention is coupled with facts and figures about how dangerous and lethal falling can be for older adults. Perhaps the messaging that is trying to protect people from falling is increasing the fear of falling and in turn making older adults more susceptible to falls. Could we be perpetuating the thing we’re trying to prevent?
Fall preparedness is a more empowering term that suggests that we are equipped and ready to fall. Fall preparedness doesn’t just mean catching yourself from a fall but having the ability to maneuver your body to reduce the impact and chance of injury. Lifting weights is fall preparedness because it’s strengthening the bones, muscles and ligaments to be more resilient to a fall and provide the strength to get up from a fall.
Let’s consider how we talk about falls and instead of feeding fears about falling, let’s feel empowered that we can train our bodies to be strong and resilient and rebound from falls. Let’s focus on feeling balanced, strong, stable, adaptable, and resilient instead of fearful. Share stories about rebounding from a fall so we can remind ourselves and others that all falls are not fatal.
Falling happens to everyone of all ages. Let’s embrace that fact that it will happen as some point and feel prepared that we’ve done the necessary training to be able to bounce back.
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