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Reducing Fall Risks in the Home

When an elderly person moves into the home, or suddenly develops a greater fall risk, taking the time to implement a plan of action is vital for reducing the risk of falls and preventing injuries. Individuals that are new to this process may be a bit clueless as to where to begin other than looking into a lift. These simple and easy tips can help reduce the risk of falls in every home.

Walkers

Walkers can help elderly individuals walk easier, but they can also pose a risk for falling if they get caught on rugs or carpet. To prevent this, invest in a few tennis balls and cut holes in them. Then, put the legs of the walker into the tennis balls. The balls will allow the walker to move easily over rugs, carpet and other possible fall hazards.

Stair Lift Installation

Stairs remain a problem for individuals that are more likely to fall, particularly curved staircases. The installation of a stairlift will allow an elderly individual to easily navigate around turns. Instead of being stuck on the bottom level of the home and isolated, they will be able to enjoy the upstairs as much as the rest of the family without having to climb a stair. Stairlift installations are often better left to the professionals, but there are DIY methods as well.

Home Hazards

Every house can be full of fall hazards. Make sure that electrical cords are tucked safely away, and remove small pieces of furniture, such as decorative tables, from close to walk ways. These can be difficult to navigate around, and can make

individuals more likely to fall.

Falls in the shower are relatively common. Taking the time to look into the installation of bars to hold onto and the installation of a couple of non-slip mats can easily help prevent falls in the shower. Shower chairs can also be used. Many people appreciate that these can be put into the shower when in use and then removed when not in use, unlike a stair lift installation, which are harder to remove and will remain in place as long as they are needed.

Raised Toilet Seats

Bathrooms in general seem to pose a greater risk for falls. When individuals use the bathroom, they may become off balance when attempting to get off of the toilet seat and fall. A raised toilet seat can make this easier. Grab bars beside the toilet are another great idea to help reduce the risk of falls in the house. Individuals should think of it like this: anything that will help lift a person up will reduce the risk of falls.

Nightlight

Make sure that high traffic areas are well lit to reduce the risk of falls due to potential hazards. If an electrical cord is laying on the floor, an individual will be able to see it as long as the area is well lit. Night lights that have motion sensors are a great way to save electricity instead of leaving the lights on all night. Small nightlights also do not use up a lot of electricity, and can be turned on or off.

When an elderly person moves into the home, it is important that they are able to enjoy the house as much as possible without being at risk for getting injured. Elderly individuals that have a greater risk of falling or that use walkers need to be in a safe environment, just like everyone else. They will enjoy being able to go throughout the house like everyone else without climbing a stair or falling.

These easy tips can help everyone feel safe, and can give families the peace of mind that they need to let their family members live with them.