Health Tips for February 1

Health Tip: Testing a Walker Before You Buy

If you've been advised to buy a walker to help with mobility and balance, it's important to find the right fit. Here are suggestions from the Calgary Health Region: Put on the shoes you'll be wearing when you test the walker. Stand up straight. Put the walker in front of and partially around you. Place both hands on the handgrips of the walker. Your elbows should be slightly bent and the hand grips should be at wrist level when your arms are hanging by your side. Otherwise, adjust the walker's height. Health Tip: Make Your Home Fall-Proof Falls in the home can lead to serious injury, including the all-too-common broken hip. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions to minimize the risk of falling: Keep stairs clear and well-lit, and make sure there are handrails on both sides. Also, there should be no loose rugs, carpets or boards. Make sure there's a slip-resistant rug outside the shower, with handrails and non-skid strips on the shower/tub floor. In the bedroom, make sure there is clear and easy access to the door. Also, keep a lamp or flashlight near the bed. Install a night light in the hallway, making that late-night trip to the bathroom safer. Make sure furniture and decorations don't block walkways. Keep all cords neat and out of the way, and all rugs or carpets firmly attached to the floor.