The older a person gets, the greater the chances are that a fall could result in serious injury or even death. Broken bones and other injuries take longer to heal and present more complications for older adults. That’s why it’s important to take any necessary steps to prevent a fall from happening in the first place. Fortunately, most falls can be prevented. The following safety checklist includes fall prevention tips from the National Center for Injury Prevention & Control (NCIPC) and other organizations concerned with health and home safety for seniors.

Furniture and Room Arrangement

• Place furniture towards the outside of the room, leaving a clear, straight path (avoid having to navigate around furniture).
• Make sure all furniture is stable enough to support weight if you lean on them.
• Remove all objects and tripping hazards from the floor.
• Keep important objects within easy reach to avoid bending and reaching and to avoid the use of a step stool.
• Keep telephones in easy-to-reach places. Make sure at least one phone is on a low table in case your loved one needs to reach it after a fall. Keep emergency numbers by the phone.

Flooring

• Use non-skid wax or no wax on polished floors.
• Remove throw rugs and area rugs (clean and hang on wall for decoration if the rug is special) or secure them to the floor with carpet tape.
• Make sure the carpet is well fastened and lies flat.
• Keep cords out of the way. Run cords behind furniture or against the wall.

Stairs and Walkways

• Remove all objects from stairways.
• Mark the edge of each step with brightly colored adhesive tape.
• Install handrails in stairways on both sides. You might also consider installing handrails in long hallways.
• Make sure your loved one wears house shoes with rubber soles for extra grip.
• Encourage your loved one to use a walker or rollator for added stability and balance.

Bathroom

• Install grab bars in the bathroom, including the toilet area, shower, and walls. Use a grab rail as a towel bar for extra safety.
• Use a bath seat in the tub or shower area.

Lighting

• Make sure your loved one can turn on the light without walking through a dark room to reach the lamp or lightswitch.
• Use nightlights in the hallway, kitchen, bathroom, and stairwell.
• Keep the house well lit during the day with natural and artificial lighting. Make sure there is adequate lighting throughout the house in the evening and early morning hours.
• Check light bulbs periodically and replace burned out bulbs immediately.

You can find out more about fall prevention and senior home safety at the NCIPC website at www.cdc.gov/injury.

Tags: Aging Parents, Fall Prevention, Senior Caregiver, Senior Home Care, Senior Safety

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