Every 11 seconds an older adult is treated in an emergency room for a fall, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are ways one can help prevent the mounting costs and physical pain that falls incur.

Eric Turner with JET Physical Therapy advises older adults to use assistance, “A lot of people let their pride get in the way of using assistance devices such as a cane or a walker. So when we have some inclement weather and there’s some ice, snow, I think people need to use good judgment about when they need to use those devices, if they do have maybe some unsteadiness and they’re not real confident in their balance, or they have an extremity that’s weaker because of some arthritis.”

Turner adds that proper shoewear is key to preventing falls in the winter. He recommends wearing shoes that have a strong grip to withstand ice and snow.