Don’t Be A Statistic: Basic Tips To Prevent Home Falls
The time to think about home fall safety is now – not while you’re lying on the floor or riding to the hospital. Every year one out of three adults ages 65 and older falls*. You can help yourself stay on the right side of that statistic by taking a few rudimentary precautions.
OBSTACLES AND CLUTTER
- Check hallways and rooms to ensure they are obstacle-free. We’re not just talking about the traditional stray roller skate here. Power cords, pet bowls, loose rugs, potted plants, and other ordinary objects can all be dangerous when placed underfoot.
- When you locate a potential tripping hazard, move it to a new permanent location. Keep in mind that being able to see the obstacle is not enough, as you might sometime find yourself traversing the area in the dark (in a power outage, for instance). Even with the lights on, obvious hazards can still trip up those with poor eyesight.
STAIRS
- Make sure all hand rails are securely fastened. The last thing you want is a handrail that rips away from the wall the first time you really need it.
- Do not carry large loads while going up or down the stairs. This includes laundry, garbage, and packages. If necessary, look into installing a dumbwaiter. Such a device is relatively inexpensive, and could literally save your life.
- If you have reached the point where you can no longer use the stairs safely, consider installing a stair lift.
LIGHTING
- Make sure you have good lighting on the stairways. If the stair light is burned out, have someone replace it with a CFL or LED bulb so that it will last longer. Stairs are one area you can’t afford to leave in the dark.
- Put an easily-accessible lamp near your bed. A lot of bad things could happen in the few steps between you and the wall switch.
- Get some “night lights” and stick them in outlets all over your house. Make sure no hallway or bedroom is ever completely dark.
MEDICAL
- Talk to your pharmacist or physician about the side effects of your medications. Some medications can cause you to become dizzy or light-headed. If you know about these side effects, you will be better able to compensate and stay safe.
- Be sure to have your vision checked annually.
- Always wear shoes both inside and outside of your home. Make sure they have a non-slip sole and are not too heavy.
* Hausdorff JM, Rios DA, Edelber HK. Gait variability and fall risk in community–living older adults: a 1–year prospective study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2001;82(8):1050–6.
Trackback from your site.
