Fall prevention strategies boomers can fall in love with

(NC)—You're only as old as you feel. This is great news for today's baby boomers, as 61 percent report they feel younger than their true age. But despite feeling great, adults need to make minor changes to their homes and lifestyles to ensure they can continue to live safe and healthy lives.

Did you know that according to the Center for Disease Control, one in three boomers fall every year? And, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for people aged 65 plus. Try these simple tips to protect yourself.

Maintaining a healthy weight and regular exercise improves your leg strength and balance, both of which are important in reducing falls.

Experts at the National Institute of Health recommend that seniors enjoy a combination of four types of exercises: endurance, such as walking or swimming; flexibility, which includes stretching before and after endurance workouts; balance, such as walking on a line; and strength, which is using resistance or weights to target core muscles.

A healthy diet is also very important. Experts note that older adults generally require fewer calories in their diet than other age groups – but they need more nutrition. Especially important to reducing falls is increasing foods that are high in calcium and vitamin D to keep bones strong.

According to the Home Safety Council, falls occur in the bathroom more than any other room in the home.

Grab bars are the most common safety product installed and brands such as Moen Home Care, offer stylish designer grab bars with accessories, combining the safety benefits with common bathroom essentials. Options include a towel bar, a paper holder, a straight shelf and a corner shelf so each item is functional and fashionable.

Next, add style and peace of mind in the shower by adding a fold-down shower seat. Unlike traditional bath seats, that can be intrusive, the wall-mount design (from Moen Home Care) folds down for a comfortable and secure shower seat to avoid slips and falls – yet folds up for a thin, compact profile when not in use.

With these few simple updates to your home and lifestyle, you'll soon enjoy peace of mind knowing that you're doing the best to reduce the risk of becoming a fall statistic. More information is available online at moen.ca.

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