Fall Prevention

Falling is the number one cause of injury among older adults, but that doesn’t mean it needs to make them afraid to get up and be active. Falls can be very serious emergency accidents for seniors. A study from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control found that falling is the leading cause of injury and death among adults aged 65 and up. Further research published in the medical journal JAMA found that for people over 75, the rate of mortality from falls more than doubled from 2000 to 2016. Those who survive falls lose mobility in 50% of cases, and 40% lose the ability to live independently.

Most people’s homes are littered with falling hazards, particularly for older adults who may have vision problems, or lower balance and agility. By taking a look around your living room, kitchen, bathrooms, hallways, and stairways, you can start to rectify the problem. Remove loose items on the floor like rugs, boxes, papers, or cords that pose tripping hazards. Furniture such as ottomans or other things like pet beds should be moved from high-traffic areas, and rugs can be secured with slip-resistant backing. Make sure your bath mats have a non slip base and place a bath seat in the shower for more accessible bathing.

You may need to adjust the lighting, too, as older adults may not be able to see as clearly. Put LED nightlights in hallways and bathrooms to avoid the need to look for light switches in the dark. A lamp on nightstands can help your loved one find their eyeglasses more easily for middle-of-the-night needs. In case the power goes out, keep flashlights nearby in a place you’ll remember.

Assistive devices like a cane, walker, rollator, or wheelchair help offer better movement capabilities for mobility-impaired adults and can help prevent a potentially dangerous fall. To increase safety, add handrails one either side of your stairways, a raised toilet seat, and grab bars for the shower/tub or next to the toilet.