Maintaining good health is essential for reducing the risk of falls, especially as we age. By focusing on strength, balance, and overall wellbeing, you can stay active and independent while lowering the chances of injury.

Information on falls prevention

Strength for Life promotes health and well-being and helps reduce the risk of falling in people over 50, through strength and balance training programs that are run by accredited community-based fitness providers.

Practical ways to stay independent at home

Take a fresh look at your house to see if it is helping you to stay independent and active. Do you and your house still suit each other? Sometimes little changes can make a big difference. Sometimes it is better to move to a more suitable house. More than six out of ten slips, trips and falls happen in and around the home. Hazards are easy to overlook but can be easy to fix. Check for home hazards regularly and get them fixed. See the Making your home your haven fact sheet (PDF 383KB) for information on:

  • ways you can reduce your risk of falling inside your home
  • ways you can reduce your risk of falling outside your home
  • where you can go for help.

7 steps to ladder safety

Download our Ladder safety poster (PDF 1MB) and flyer (PDF 58KB) for your home, office, school or business.

Strong muscles and bones

Being active, having enough vitamin D and eating the right foods are all important to help us stay healthy, keep our bones and muscles strong and our brain working well. Two fact sheets have been developed to assist you:

Eyesight

Eyesight is important for everyone to maintain independence, keep steady and move around safely. See the Eyesight and walking fact sheet (PDF 324KB) for information on:

  • simple yet effective tips on how you can help prevent falls caused by vision problems
  • how often you should get your eyes checked.

Medicines can affect your balance

Manage your medicines to help you stay on your feet. Taking your medicines correctly, when combined with physical activity, will help you to sleep better, stay steady, be independent and enjoy life. See the Medicines and balance fact sheet (PDF 200KB) for information about:

  • what you can do if medicines affect your balance
  • who you can go to for help.

Dizziness

Do you often feel dizzy? Being steady and safe is important for keeping your balance and staying independent. There are many reasons why people feel dizzy. Doctors can work out the causes, and dizziness can be easily treated in many cases. See the Dizziness and balance fact sheet (PDF 175KB) for information on:

  • what dizziness is
  • what you can do
  • where you can go for help, and when to seek urgent medical help.

Comfy feet

To help avoid falls, wear shoes that are comfortable and fit well – they should be wide enough in the toe area, have low or no heels, and have slip-resistant soles. Non-slip socks are not recommended unless advised by your health professional.

Over the years everyone’s feet change shape, lose padding underneath and the skin can change. This can affect balance and walking, and lead to pain, slips, trips and falls. See the Comfy feet go a long way fact sheet (PDF 268KB) for information on:

  • how you can look after your feet
  • tips to picking the best shoes
  • common foot problems
  • where to go for help.

Contact

Safety and Quality
Telephone: (08) 8226 9599
Email: Health.DHWClinicalGovernanceEnquiries@sa.gov.au