By: Michael Cary, PhD, RN Assistant Professor, Duke University School of Nursing

After an unusually warm start to the season, we are starting to see a significant change in weather patterns with the winter storm approaching. With this comes an increased risk for falls and fall-related injuries for people of all ages, but most dangerously, for older adults.

Every year, one in three older adults fall with nearly a third of the falls resulting in a serious injury such as lacerations, head trauma or hip fracture. More than 90 percent of hip fracture patients are older adults and one in four who suffers a hip fracture will never regain the ability to walk without assistance.

As an assistant professor at the Duke University School of Nursing, I research risk factors for falls and fall-related injuries among older adults, as well as strategies to prevent such devastating events from happening. And the time for seniors to reduce their risk for a winter fall is before the first flake of snow lands on their doorsteps.

Here are several tips to keep older adults safe as we prepare for winter weather:

Inspect driveways for ice, especially black ice – a thin coating of ice that is nearly transparent and often unseen.

• Apply sand or a de-icer such as rock salt or ice melts outside the front door, on the door step and on the path to the car.

And if the winter weather keeps you homebound, take time to modify indoors as well by:

• Improving lighting.
• Installing grab bars in the tub or shower, by the toilet, and along the staircases.
• Removing slipping and tripping hazards such as throw rugs or area carpets with curled edges. Also, remove papers, books, or clothes from places you walk.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults can help prevent falls by improving their strength and balance with exercises such as chair rise exercises or Tai Chi.

Lastly, it’s important to monitor your local news outlets for changing conditions so you can promptly prepare for any ice and/or snow accumulations.