fall prevention Archives - Better Health While Aging

034 – Preventing Falls: 10 Types of Medication to Reconsider

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains ten types of medications that may be associated with falls in aging adults. These are the medications that experts including the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommend that doctors address during a medication review for fall prevention. This episode covers:

The four actions the CDC recommends that older adults do, to prevent falls
Why it’s so common for older adults to be on medications that may increase the risk for falls
What doctors are supposed to do, if an older person is taking one of these medications
Generic and brand names of the more commonly used medications that may be linked to falls
Tips on what to ask your doctor, if you or your older relative are taking any of these medications

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005 – Interview: Otago & Proven Exercises for Fall Prevention

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 9 Comments

In This Episode:

Dr. K interviews Tiffany Shubert, PhD MPT, a practicing physical therapist on faculty at the University of North Carolina, and a leading expert on exercise programs for fall prevention. They discuss:

What types of exercise work best for fall prevention, and why
Why strength and balance exercises are so important for aging adults
Why walking is not enough, when it comes to fall prevention
Easy tests you can do at home, to check an older person’s leg strength and balance
What’s involved in the Otago Exercise Program, an exciting new physical therapy program proven to reduce falls in older adults and endorsed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
How to find Otago near you
Why any exercise or physical therapy program for fall prevention should involve exercises done in standing, that are challenging, that get more challenging over time, and that involve at least two hours/week of exercises
Other proven programs to reduce falls in older adults
Tips on doing fall prevention exercises in people with Alzheimers or other dementias

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004 – What to Do If You’re Worried About Falls

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

In This Episode:

Why older adults fall
How to identify underlying health risk factors and fall triggers, so that you can personalize your fall prevention plan
The three step process Dr. Kernisan uses to create a fall prevention plan for an older person
Medications that geriatricians often reduce or stop, to reduce fall risk
How blood pressure medication can increase fall risk, and a simple test to discuss with the doctor

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