Health

When a Fall Changes Everything

SCAN member Heidi B. says the handrails were installed in her family home a while ago when her father started having trouble getting up and down the two flights of stairs. But Heidi wasn’t holding on to those handrails two years ago as she carried a cat downstairs. Heidi was also in socks at the time, so when she missed the final stair, she slipped. She went down hard on her tailbone, then her leg. That instant, she says, changed her life.

Person wearing leggings and socks walks up stairs.

“Before the accident, I was as strong as a horse. I didn’t need help and could get around easily,” the 66-year-old says. “That all changed that day.”

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

Two years after her fall, Heidi has pain that makes it difficult to care for herself and her 99-year-old mother. The pain is the worst at night when she is in bed. “It’s been an adjustment and challenge to get comfortable,” she says. Heidi has accepted a new normal for her life that includes being constantly mindful of how not to take another fall.

“Looking back, I’d say that preventing falls is key,” she says. “It’s just being aware that a fall could happen any time and then taking the little bit of extra time needed to do things to prevent it.” By that, she means:

  • Avoiding stairs whenever possible. When stairs are inevitable, hold on to the handrails.
  • Being mindful of slippery surfaces. Wear shoes or socks with no-skid soles.
  • Adjusting your routine for safety. “Now when I have to bring something downstairs,” Heidi says, “I carry it in a basket so I can still hold the railing.”

SCAN at Her Side

Heidi also learned from her fall experience how much she appreciated having SCAN as her health plan. “SCAN has made it possible to get this far,” she says. “Because of SCAN, I’ve found a primary care doctor close to home who has been so important in my recovery. And I’ve been able to see the right specialists to evaluate and help me.”

A fall changed Heidi’s life, but “I’ve adapted to limitations and I’m at least comfortable where I’m at right now,” she says. “I wish the fall never happened, but it did. It was a big hardship, but SCAN helped me get through that.”

Fall Prevention and Your One Pass Benefit

Your One Pass fitness benefit offers exercise programs and other resources designed specifically to reduce your fall risk, including:

Bold

An online and personalized exercise program proven to lower fall risk. No cost for SCAN members. Find out more at agebold.com/scan.

Encore Wellness

If there’s a Nifty After Fifty center in your area, try the Fall-Free classes for in-person training. You don’t have to leave home, though, to take part in the wealth of fall-related programs that Encore Wellness offers online. The “Mobility & Stability” class is one example, but you can find many more by logging into your One Pass account at youronepass.com.

Back to top