Did you know that falls have become the leading cause of injury deaths for senior citizens? Among people 65 years and older, falls are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma. Each year in the United States, nearly one third of older adults experience a fall.
The unfortunate part about those statistics is that most of the falls are preventable. Below is a list of action steps that can be taken to help in protecting senior adults from fall injuries...
• Have regular vision and hearing tests. Discuss falls prevention with your doctor.
• Be sure to take prescription and over-the-counter medications correctly. Keep a medication record and review it regularly with your doctor. Let your doctor know if your medication makes you dizzy or lightheaded.
• Install proper lighting throughout your home. Pay special attention to stairs (with a light switch at both ends) and bathrooms. Use night-lights in the hallways, particularly between the bedroom and bathroom.
• Keep your floor and stairs free of clutter. Avoid the use of scatter rugs.
• Be sure to have at least one handrail (preferably two) on all stairways and steps in your home. Ensure handrails are securely attached and in good repair.
• Check that stairs are in good repair and are slip resistant. If any stairs are broken, have them fixed promptly. Add a strip along the edge of each step in a contrasting color to make it easier to see or use reflective anti-skid treads.
• Take the same precautions for outdoor steps. In addition, arrange to have leaves, snow and ice removed on a regular basis. Use salt or sand throughout the winter months.
• Wear proper footwear. Shoes, boots and slippers should provide good support and have good soles. Avoid loose slippers or stocking feet.
• Install grab bars in all bathrooms, by the toilet and in the bathtub or shower. It's a good idea to have two bars in the tub, one on a side wall and one on the back wall. If you need extra support, consider a bath seat or bench so you can have a shower sitting down.
• Use a rubber mat along the full length in your tub and a non-skid bath math beside the tub.
• Use walking aids and other safety devices for extra safety. If you use a cane or a walker, check that it is the right height and that the rubber tips are not worn. Install stainless steel prongs (ice picks) on canes for safe walking in the winter.
• In case of an accident or fall, it's always a smart investment for senior adults to have a medical alert system, such as Medical Guardian, in place.
Tips To Prevent Falls At Home:
• Have regular vision and hearing tests. Discuss falls prevention with your doctor.
• Be sure to take prescription and over-the-counter medications correctly. Keep a medication record and review it regularly with your doctor. Let your doctor know if your medication makes you dizzy or lightheaded.
• Install proper lighting throughout your home. Pay special attention to stairs (with a light switch at both ends) and bathrooms. Use night-lights in the hallways, particularly between the bedroom and bathroom.
• Keep your floor and stairs free of clutter. Avoid the use of scatter rugs.
• Be sure to have at least one handrail (preferably two) on all stairways and steps in your home. Ensure handrails are securely attached and in good repair.
• Check that stairs are in good repair and are slip resistant. If any stairs are broken, have them fixed promptly. Add a strip along the edge of each step in a contrasting color to make it easier to see or use reflective anti-skid treads.
• Take the same precautions for outdoor steps. In addition, arrange to have leaves, snow and ice removed on a regular basis. Use salt or sand throughout the winter months.
• Wear proper footwear. Shoes, boots and slippers should provide good support and have good soles. Avoid loose slippers or stocking feet.
• Install grab bars in all bathrooms, by the toilet and in the bathtub or shower. It's a good idea to have two bars in the tub, one on a side wall and one on the back wall. If you need extra support, consider a bath seat or bench so you can have a shower sitting down.
• Use a rubber mat along the full length in your tub and a non-skid bath math beside the tub.
• Use walking aids and other safety devices for extra safety. If you use a cane or a walker, check that it is the right height and that the rubber tips are not worn. Install stainless steel prongs (ice picks) on canes for safe walking in the winter.
• In case of an accident or fall, it's always a smart investment for senior adults to have a medical alert system, such as Medical Guardian, in place.
1 comment:
Hi, Carmen, An excellent post and lots of great tips for people. Unfortunately, when my hubby, Gramps,fell and broke his hip (which, as you know, led to his demise three months ago,) he was in an assisted living place, and although they had all those things, he still fell in early morning hours.
Thanks for the really great suggestions. I hope people will take it all to heart. Best regards to you, Ruby
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