Photo by Lealan Buehrer

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Winter season can be a time of increased danger for everyone, but especially older adults. Fall-related deaths among people aged 75 and older have almost tripled since 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Here are some suggestions for staying safely on your feet this winter:

—If you use a cane, get an ice gripper cane tip. These metal-spike attachments cost less than $12 on Amazon.com.

—Use kitty litter on slick surfaces. Carry a Ziploc bag filled with a lightweight kitty litter in your pocket and scatter it ahead of you on very slick surfaces.

—Replace multifocal glasses with single-vision eyeglass lenses. According to a 2010 study in the British Medical Journal, the blurred field of vision caused by multifocal glasses impairs balance and increases the risk of falls. Researchers found that single-lens distance glasses were associated with 40% fewer falls for people approximately 80 years old.

—When reaching for high placed objects, use step stools and/or a hand-held reacher. Never stand on chairs or other furniture.

—Cover the entryway to your home and provide a table to set down bags while finding keys.

—Shorter days mean more time in the dark, so carry a tiny flashlight to attach to keys, hats and coats.

—Have daily necessities like food and medications delivered rather than making shopping trips in bad weather. Major grocery chains have delivery services (Giant’s Peapod; Safeway’s delivery service), and Instacart.com offers same-day delivery from many stores, including Costco. Some independent pharmacies such as Kensington Pharmacy in Kensington, Maryland, also deliver.

Older adults fall often because of biomechanical vulnerabilities, which cause balance and gait disorders. Consider obtaining a thorough biomechanical assessment from a physician trained to help diagnose and treat fall risk, balance and gait deficits.

Dr. Levan Atanelov, M.D., is director and CEO of Steady Strides Fall Prevention and Stroke Rehabilitation Medical Institute in Owings Mills, Maryland. For more information, visit steadystridesmd.com or call (443) 898-8160.