Ways older adults can reduce falls
Make your home safe
Falls can happen anytime, anyplace and to anyone. Half of all falls happen in the home. Take these steps to make your home safe and comfortable:
Fall proof your home
- Rearrange furniture to allow a clear path.
- Have a professional install grab bars next to the toilet, in the bathtub or shower and handrails on both sides of stairs. Call Falls Prevention Helpline at United Way 2-1-1 to help you line this up.
- Remove things you could trip over (such as books, boxes, shoes) from floors, stairs and hallways.
- Throw away those throw rugs! Do not use throw or scatter rugs on your floors. These items make it easier to slip and fall.
- Apply double-sided tape to the back of your carpet to keep it from sliding. Double-sided tape costs $3 to $7 and may be found at your local hardware or discount store.
- Be careful around pets to avoid tripping over them.
- Use non-slip mats in the bathroom, bathtub or shower. Non-slip mats cost $5 to $7 and may be found at your local hardware store, discount store or medical supply store.
- Have a professional install grab bars next to the toilet, in the bathtub or shower and handrails on both sides of stairs. Call the Senior LinkAge Line® (1-800-333-2433) to find a professional in your area.
- If you are unsteady on your feet, use a shower stool.
- Wear supportive, low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles.
- Wipe up spills from floors immediately, to prevent slipping.
- If it is not air conditioned, keep cool in the summer with an electric fan, lots of liquids and limited activity.
- In the winter, keep the nighttime temperature at 65 degrees or warmer.
Brighten your apartment or house with increased lighting
- Turn the lights on ahead of you as you move through the house or up and down the stairs.
- Use nightlights to brighten bedrooms, halls and bathrooms.
- Have a flashlight or lamp near the bed to help you see at night.
Complete a home safety checklist
It is a simple step to make your home safe and fall proof
- Check for Safety: A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, visit www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/preventadultfalls.htm or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)
- Home Safety Checks are available through RSVP and other older adult service providers. For more information, please contact the Falls Prevention Helpline at United Way 2-1-1 (dial 211).