Falls, with or without injury, can significantly impact the quality of life of older adults. Most older adults want to maintain their independence and stay in their home as long as safely possible. In order to do so, research shows that home modification can reduce fall risks even in those who are at a moderate to high risk.
Home Modifications to Prevent Falls
As a healthcare clinician, working in rehab, I often am asked “what can I do at home to limit the risk of falling?” Well, there are certainly a lot of ways you can modify your home to make your risk of falling much less. Some home changes are easier than others, meaning there may be some that you can do on your own, or have a family member do with little effort, and there are some that you may need to outsource to someone.
Here is a non-inclusive list of some home modifications that you can make:
- Install night lights in the hallways, especially to areas you may frequent when it’s dark like the kitchen and/or bathroom. This is going to light up your path and allow you to see any obstacles that could be a tripping hazard
- Keep items that are frequently used (pots, pans, etc) in an easy to reach location
- Pick up any clutter. Basically make sure your walkways are free from things you could trip over
- Get rid of rugs/mats. Especially those that are not tacked down or non slip and easily slide
- Use non-slip mats in your bathroom
- Install grab bars and handrails, especially in the bathroom where a lot of falls occur
- Get a raised toilet seat – it is easier to stand from an elevated surface
- Convert bathtub to a walk in shower/tub
- Clean up any spills as soon as possible
- Build/install a ramp with handrails leading to avoid stairs
- Pace yourself when doing chores and do what you can while sitting to avoid fatigue or loss of balance
While making these changes may not necessarily prevent a fall from occurring, they can certainly help minimize the risk. Many local/state governments have education and/or home modification programs to help the elderly prevent falls, and if falling is a concern for you or a family member then reach out to your local health department, or physical therapy facility, to see about what kind of assistance is available to help make your home a safe place to live. You can also check out our latest ebook that covers the most important areas to address when considering home modification. It also includes a home safety checklist!
And if you live in the Augusta area, book an appointment online or call the office today to schedule a mobility & falls assessment or even speak about how we can help you modify your home to improve your safety and independence.
