HOME SAFTY

Fall prevention and mobility most directly impacts seniors right in their own home. If a fall is going to occur it most likely will happen in or close to their home. The most common environmental hazard in the home is simply tripping over something. The areas which have the highest probability of creating a fall which will result in hospitalization are as follows:
  • ladders and step stools 
  • bathrooms
  • home communications (loose wires and cords on the floor)
  
It is advisable to conduct a "walk through" of the home to identify any problems which might lead to a fall. The use of a physical or occupational therapist is advisable because they are trained to identify fall risk factors and know how to handle them.

Fall prevention opportunities can be broken down into different areas of the house which can pose unique challenges in addressing.   A few of these areas are broken down as follows.

Bathrooms
  • install grab bars on the walls around the tub and beside the toilet, all of which are strong enough to support the senior's body weight.  
  • add non-stick mats to the bottom of the bath tub or shower. 
  • install a portable hand held shower head attachment.  
  • add a padded bath or shower seat  
  • use non-skid mats or carpets to areas which may get wet and slippery.
 
Kitchen
  • keep commonly used items within easy reach 
  • use sturdy step stool whenever you need anything from a high shelf
  • make sure appliance and telephone cords are out of the way  
  • avoid floor polish wax because it can make floor areas very slick 
 
Living, Dining and Family Rooms
  • make sure appliance and telephone cords are out of the way, whenever possible use cordless phones. 
  • make sure chairs and couches are easy to get into and out of  
  • use only non-skid throw rugs on floors  
  • make sure no other obstructions (trash cans, books, boxes, piles of clothes) are present in paths where walking is most common
  
Stairs
  • hand rails on both sides of stairs and that those rails extend to the top and bottom of the stairs. 
  • make sure all stairs and areas with steps are well lit  
  • keep stairs and steps clear of any obstructions. 
  • if the senior is too nervous about climbing steps try to keep as many daily activities in the home on the ground level as possible, this helps prevent feelings of isolation or depression from developing.
  
Ladders
  • use a sturdy ladder or step stool whenever climbing up, never use a chair  
  • always face toward the ladder when climbing and wear slip resistant (rubber soled) shoes.   
  • place the ladder on a solid and level area before climbing   
  • keep your body centered on the ladder   
  • when using an extension ladder never have your head or shoulders above the top of the ladder, and never place the ladder near areas with electrical wires.
 
A final precaution which many seniors should consider is the use of medical emergency devices which can be activated to request medical assistance. They are normally worn or carried by the person so they are near if the need arises.

Home safety related to fall prevention must be considered in conjunction with other factors including medical issues and exercise. The senior should practice what to do if they do fall and have some sort of a plan of action for how they will get up to their feet in the event that the person ever does fall at home.

Websites of interest related to information contained on this page include:

http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/CheckListForSafety.html

http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/safetyguide/sg_falls_w001.asp

http://downloads.nsc.org/pdf/CPSCSafetyReport.pdf

http://www.nsc.org/safety_home/Resources/Pages/Falls.aspx

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/consumer/10242.html

http://www.temple.edu/older_adult/ihsceng.htm

http://homesafetycouncil.org/MySafeHome/msh_tour_w001.asp