Household Modifications Can Help Prevent Falls By Older Americans

Every year, one in three older Americans fall, and according to the National Council on Aging, falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries for people aged 65 and older.

Falls by members of our senior population often result in hip fractures, broken bones and head injuries. If you are caring for an aging loved one, it is important to fall proof your home, both inside and outdoors. You can do the following to make your home safer:

• Remove safety hazards in all rooms.
• Improve lighting.
• Install handrails and grab bars.
• Move items to make them easier to reach.

Here are some tips on how to carry out those fall-proofing strategies:

1. Remove anything that could cause your loved one to trip or slip while walking—It is easy to trip on clutter collected on the floor and the stairs. Small furniture may tip over and create a fall hazard. Dog bowls, electrical and phone cords also can create trip hazards. Throw rugs are especially dangerous because they can slip on the floor and can create an uneven floor surface for walking. Remove them from every room of the house.
2. Arrange furniture to provide plenty of walking room—A senior’s vision may begin to fade and narrow. Therefore, it is important to make sure there is a lot of space between furniture for easy walking.
3. Put non-slip strips on floors and steps—It is important that every walking surface in the home be as non-slip as possible. It will help to place non-slip strips on stairs and a rubber mat on the floor of your bathtub or shower.
4. During the winter, spread salt and sand on walkways and the driveway—Make sure your loved one’s entry is cleared of snow and ice. This includes making sure leaking gutters aren’t causing ice build-up near doors.
5. Good lighting is essential to preventing falls—Walk around your loved one’s home, and take a quick inventory of lighting. When assessing outdoor lighting, make sure it removes as many shadows as possible. Waning eyesight can’t decipher easily between shadow and light, which can result in falls. Good lighting on stairways, both indoor and outdoor, is especially important, with light switches at both the top and bottom of stairs. Indoor lighting should include night lights in all rooms and hallways. Lamps should be placed within easy reach of the bed and should have the highest wattage bulb allowed by the fixture. Place night lights in the bathroom, hallways, bedroom and kitchen. Place a flashlight by the bed for extra safety.
6. Handrails and guardrails can prevent falls—Make sure handrails are in place on both sides of stairs and walkways. Grab bars should be installed in the tub, shower and next to the toilet.

Preventing falls is one of the most important things you can do for the safety of your loved one. If you need support caring for a loved one, call us. Our trained caregivers can provide support to fit your schedule and provide you with peace of mind. We understand aging, and we can help your loved one age in a healthy manner.

Caregivers at Home Care Assistance are available for daily and hourly respite care for your loved one to help you protect your health and focus on yourself, too. Contact Amanda Butas, your Mesa client care manager, at (480) 699-4899 to see how our caregivers can help your loved one thrive. You also can visit us at our new office next to Bed Bath and Beyond, located on Power and McKellips roads, at 2031 N. Power Road, Suite 103.