Fall Prevention in the Home

Fall Prevention in the Home

In this post:

• Introduction – why fall prevention is important
• Home Fall Hazards
• Resources

Introduction

Falling is one of the leading causes of injury in older adults. According to the CDC, more than one out of four adults fall each year, but less than half tell their doctor. There are about 1 million fall-related hospitalizations amongst older adults each year, and nearly 319,000 older adults are hospitalized for hip fractures, the wide majority of which are caused by falls. Falling can also result in traumatic brain injuries, or in fractures that greatly restrict mobility or quality of life. Having one fall can also lead older adults to restrict their own activities out of fear of falling again, which unfortunately can result in lower levels of activity, which leads to weakness and additional fall risk.

There are also a number of health conditions that can contribute to fall risk, such as lower body weakness, vitamin D deficiency, vision problems, foot pain or poor footwear, or use of medications like sedatives or antidepressants. If you think you might be at risk of falling, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about what you can do to prevent falls.

It’s also a good idea to get a checklist such as the “Check for Safety” list from the CDC, and go through your home looking for fall hazards. Read on for more information about preventing falls in your home.

Home Fall Hazards

If you’ve lived in the same home for a long time, it’s very easy to become blind to various hazards around the home that lead to increased fall risk. Maybe you’ve always had a rug that doesn’t quite stick to the floor properly, or a big wrinkle under your carpet, or a funky stair that wobbles, or maybe your grandkids have always piled their shoes in inconvenient places. It helps to have someone else walk through your home with you and go over a safety checklist so you don’t miss anything.

Stairs

Common sources of falls are hazards around the stairs, such as loose or uneven boards or carpet, objects piled on stairs, or loose or missing handrails. There should always be handrails on both sides of the stairs, and they should go the whole length of the stairs. If you find stairs challenging, consider whether you can install a ramp or a stair lift. These can be costly measures, and there aren’t always resources to help you afford them, but they can pay for themselves in prevention of hospitalizations.

Lighting

Lighting is especially important to the prevention of falls in key areas such as staircases and between your bedroom and bathroom, particularly if you often have to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. Be sure that the light switches are in convenient, easy-to-reach place near the stairs, your bed, the hallway, and the bathroom, that they are all functioning properly and no lights are burnt out, and if necessary, install glowing light switches. It can also be a good idea to install nightlights in the hallways that automatically turn on when it gets dark or when they sense movement. Be sure they are low-profile, so they don’t stick out and cause a tripping hazard!

Clutter

When you’re walking through your home, take a careful look at how the furniture and decorations are arranged. Is anything sticking out into the walkway? Are the walkways wide enough to accommodate you and any walking aids? Are there things out of place, or stored on the floor that could be moved elsewhere to improve your safety?

Cords stretched across the floor are often a tripping hazard, and should be coiled close to the wall or moved to a safer and closer outlet. Throw rugs are often a source of trips and falls, so any rugs should be low-profile and firmly attached to the floor with double-sided tape or a non-slip backing. Sometimes it’s a good idea to get rid of them entirely.

Handrails

Handrails or “grab bars” are not standard in most residential bathrooms, but you can get them installed for a reasonable cost. Common places they are needed are in the bathtub or near the toilet. Many seniors make the mistake of leaning on their towel racks for support, which are not strong enough to hold their weight. Of course, once you get the handrails installed, be sure not to use them as towel racks, as that can make them hard to grip and cause slipping!  

Stairs, again, are often missing handrails on both sides, or those rails come loose and can fall unexpectedly. Be sure to check the rails in every staircase, no matter how small, and be sure you have adequate support when stepping up or down.

Bathrooms

Besides handrails and lighting, it’s also important to have non-slip mats on the floor of your tub or shower, and non-slip surfaces near the tub or shower where the floor might get wet. If lowering yourself down to the toilet is challenging even with a grab bar, you can get a special raised toilet to help reduce the difficulty. There are also shower or tub chairs which can make it safer for you when using those features, and even walk-in tubs and curb-less showers that you can install in place of normal tubs or showers that you would need to step over or out of.

Driveways, Porches, and other Outdoor areas

We would be remiss if we did not mention one of the more uniquely Alaskan hazards: the snow and ice of the great outdoors! Common causes of falls in Alaska are improperly shoveled stairs, decks, porches, driveways, and walkways. Think about the places you commonly walk outside: from your door to your car or mailbox and back, for example. If your path isn't clear of snow and ice, or is missing handrails for grip, you might be at increased risk of falling. Be sure to wear proper footwear with good grips, and even invest in removable cleats or chains for your boots if you need them. Walking aids like sticks, canes, or walkers are especially important outside, if you need them to get around, and you should make sure they are properly slip-resistant on ice.  

Resources

For more information on falling and preventing fall risk, you can go to CDC.gov’s Older Adult Fall Prevention page, here. Also check out the National Council on Aging’s helpful resources for home modification tools and tips to prevent falls. They can also point you toward various home assessment tools, and programs in your area to help you afford home modifications that will help prevent you from falling and allow you to continue living safely in your home.  

If you haven’t had one this year, and you have Medicare, you can schedule a Medicare Wellness Exam, in which your provider will assess your fall risk and help educate you on fall prevention. This is a helpful visit that gives you the opportunity to discuss your preventive care, including fall risk, and learn about what you need to do to stay healthy. It’s covered in full by Medicare, with no co-pay, co-insurance, or deductible.

Learn More

https://www.cdc.gov/falls/data-research/facts-stats/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/patient-resources/index.html

https://www.ncoa.org/article/home-modification-tools-and-tips-to-help-prevent-falls/

Author

The Quality Team @ ICHC The Quality department at ICHC brings you helpful information about your healthcare in Fairbanks and Healy, AK. We are proudly committed to ensuring high-quality "healthcare with a heart!"