To help determine if you may be headed for a fall, take the Balance Self Test below.
If you answer yes to one or more of the questions, you could be at risk. The best way to determine if you have a problem, though, is to talk with your physician who might recommend that you get a balance screening test from a qualified physical therapist.

1.	Have you fallen more than once in the past year?	Yes	No
2.	Do you take medicine for two or more of the following diseases: heart disease hypertension, arthritis, anxiety, or depression?	Yes	No
3.	Do you feel dizzy or unsteady if you make sudden changes in movement such as bending down or quickly turning?	Yes	No
4.	Do you have black-outs or seizures?	Yes	No
5.	Have you experienced a stroke or other neurological problem that has affected your balance?	Yes	No
6.	Do you experience numbness or loss of sensation in your legs and/or feet?	Yes	No
7.	Do you use a walker or wheel chair, or do you need assistance to get around?	Yes	No
8.	Are you inactive? (Answer yes if you do not participate in a regular form of exercise, such as walking or exercising 20-30 minutes at least three times a week.)	Yes	No
9.	Do you feel unsteady when you are walking, climbing stairs?	Yes	No
10.	Do you have difficulty sitting down or rising from a seated or lying position?	Yes	No

Tips for Fall Prevention:

• Keep all rooms free from clutter, especially on the floors
• Keep floor surfaces smooth but not slippery. Learn to look for differences in floor levels and thresholds.
• Wear supportive, low-heeled shoes, even at home, and avoid walking around in socks, stockings or scuffs.
• Make sure all carpets or area rugs have skid proof backing or can be tacked down to the floor, including carpeting on stairs.
• Be sure all stairwells are well lit and that stairs have handrails on both sides. Consider placing fluorescent tape on the edges of top and bottom steps.
• Install grab bars on bathroom walls beside tubs, showers and toilets. If you are unstable on your feet, use a plastic chair with a back and nonskid leg tips in the shower.
• Use a rubber bath mat in the shower or tub.
• Add ceiling fixtures to rooms lit by lamps only or hook up a lamp so it is activated by a switch near a room’s entry point. Another option is to install voice or sound activated lamps.
• Use at least 100-watt bulbs in the home.
• Consider purchasing a portable phone you can take with you from room to room. This way you can answer the phone without rushing for it and you can call for help if an accident occurs.
• Keep a flashlight with fresh batteries beside the bed.
• Have daily contact with a family member or friend. Be sure at least one person always knows where you are.