Falls are the leading cause of injury in seniors and comprise sixty percent of all injury related deaths in that age demographic. Three quarters of these falls occur within or in the vicinity of their homes. One third of these falls are attributed to hazardous conditions within the home and could have been prevented. Because recovering from a fall can be an extremely difficult process in the elderly, it is imperative that caregivers and family members ensure that their elderly loved ones have a safe environment in which to navigate within their surroundings.
Making such home modifications doesn’t have to be expensive or require the services of a professional contractor. There are a number of simple, but effective things that can be done by family members or the caregiver in order to promote a fall-safe environment within their loved one’s home. There are many things to be aware of when making the home environment more user-friendly for seniors and the caregiver, jobs include:
Outside the home
- Be sure that walkways, sidewalks, and concrete surfaces are free of cracks and holes. Chunks of material that may have broken off from the rest can serve as stumbling blocks on the way in and out of the home.
- Check the door threshold height in relation to the porch or landing. A threshold that is too high can cause a nasty fall if a senior was the misjudge the distance they need to step up in order to clear it. Installing a floor plate on high thresholds can level out the entry way.
- Ensure that stairs and steps leading into and out of the home are sturdy enough and wide enough to support the weight of the senior who accesses them. Handrails are essential where stairs and/or steps are involved to ensure proper balance and support.
Inside the home
- Remove any rugs or carpets that the senior may get their feet tangled up in when trying to walk across the floor.
- Avoid using wax on hardwood, linoleum, and tile floors to prevent creating a slippery surface.
- Remove all clutter from walkways in the home so that the senior does not stumble across anything in their path.
- Secure any electric cords or extension cords to the baseboards with brackets or store the excesses underneath pieces of furniture to safeguard against the senior tripping over them and falling.
- Install non-slip strips of gripping tape to stairs and steps within the home for added traction when using.
Most of the things listed above are just simple common sense and easy to carry out tasks for the caregiver. Jobs that include the use of power tools or more technical issues though should be left to the porfessionals.
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