Home Care

Fall Prevention: Your Home Safety Checklist

Guest post from Maura at www.homeinstead.ie A hip fracture is one of the most common injuries suffered by seniors who ...

Guest post from Maura at www.homeinstead.ie

A hip fracture is one of the most common injuries suffered by seniors who slip or fall. 50% of those over 60 who fracture their hip will not be able to wash, bath or walk across a room unaided. They will become dependent on family or friends to take care of them or will go into a nursing home.

The good news is no one is too young or old to improve their bone health and there are a number of steps people can take to avoid falls:

Outdoors

  • Fix uneven cracks and pathways.
  • Install handrails or grab bars on stairs and steps.
  • Trim shrubbery along the pathway to the home.
  • Keep footpaths clear of clutter.

All Living Spaces

  • Secure rugs with nonskid tape as well as carpet edges.
  • Install electrical outlets to hip level to prevent bending down and possibly losing your balance.
  • Reduce clutter.
  • Install nightlights or motion-sensitive lighting throughout the home.
  • Remove wheels from all items of furniture

Bathrooms

  • Install grab bars on walls beside the bath and the toilet.
  • Mount a liquid soap dispenser on the bath-wall.
  • Install a portable, hand-held shower head.
  • Install a raised toilet seat if needed.
  • Use non-skid mats or carpet on floor surfaces that may get wet.

Kitchen

  • Keep commonly used items within easy reach.
  • Use a sturdy step stool when you need something from a high shelf.
  • Make sure appliance cords are out of the way so you do not trip over them.
  • Avoid using floor polish or wax to reduce slippery surfaces..

Bedroom

  • Use a bedside light with a switch that is easy to turn on and off or a touch sensitive lamp.
  • Use a nightlight to keep the room lit at night time.

Stairways, Hallways and Pathways

  • Keep walking areas free of clutter.
  • Avoid throw rugs.
  • Install tightly fastened hand rails running the entire length and along both sides of stairs.
  • Apply brightly coloured tape to the face of the steps to make them more visible.
  • Install adequate lighting in stairways, hallways and pathways, with light switches placed at each end.

These steps will help you make your home a safer place to live. If you checked
no to any of this boxes please take note of what needs to be done to make your home safer.

– For further information on home care options and more great tips from our blog, visit our website at www.homeinstead.ie or call us on 1890 930 013.