There are so many reasons older adults fall, but the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center advices us on some very specific reasons of which to be aware.

• Illness, whether it’s a chronic condition or recently contracted fever and flu, which makes for weakness.
• Declining or poor vision
• Loss of footing or slipping, due to surface traction
• Inability to move out of harms way quickly enough and keep your balance due to slower reflexes
• General issues with balance and weaker muscle strength
• Some medications that make you feel dizzy, confused or sluggish, like blood pressure medications, heart pills, water pills (diuretics), sleeping pills and pills that relax your muscles.
• Drinking alcohol, because it affects your balance, reflexes and may make you feel dizzy or want to take risks that could lead to a fall.

According to the National Counsel on Aging (NCOA), the most common conditions that can increase risk of a fall are:

• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Arthritis

These are chronic conditions and they may increase an older adult’s risk of falling because of things like inactivity, pain, depression, lost physical functioning or taking multiple medications.

Luckily, yes, there is!  According to the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center, there are 4 things older adults can do to protect their bones:

• Exercise builds bone strength, specifically walking, climbing stairs, lifting weights or dancing each day
• Make sure to get enough Calcium and Vitamin D daily
• Talk with your doctor about getting your bone density tested.  It’s called a bone mineral density (BMD) test.
• Talk with your doctor about medicines to make your bones stronger