9 Tips to Avoid Falls at Home for Seniors

A few easy home repair tasks may go a long way toward keeping you and your family safe from dangerous falls. Per the CDC, one out of every three seniors will fall this year, but less than half will discuss it with their doctors. Falls are also the first cause of injury among seniors, leading to hip fractures, cuts, and potentially catastrophic head and brain trauma. Even if there is no significant damage and no access to skilled nursing, a fall can be so terrifying that the elderly may avoid particular activities out of fear of falling again.

Some of the most likely reasons for falls are in the house, where you may have a false sense of security due to slick flooring, shaky stairs, or electrical cables. As a result, fall prevention begins with ensuring a safe living environment.

This paper will tell you various ways to proof your house or apartment in ways that help you avoid falling.

9 Fall Prevention Strategies at Home for the Elderly

Fall prevention methods do not have to be a total house overhaul. With a few simple improvements, you can make your house fall-safe. Experts in senior care recommend the following tips for avoiding falls at home:

Clear up the mess

Keeping your home neat and tidy is the easiest way to prevent falls. Make sure all clutter is removed from hallways and stairways, including old newspapers and magazines.

Remove tripping hazards or use padding

Home fittings can sometimes increase the risk of falling, which can result in back discomfort and other problems. First, examine each room and corridor for loose carpet, slippery throw rugs, or wood planks that stick up. Then, for more appropriate fall prevention, repair, remove, or replace such objects. You can also use padding to cover the sharp edges of the corners.

Place railings and grab bars

These safety gadgets are essential for safely walking up the stairs or the other way, sitting on the toilet or getting off it, and going in the bathtub or leaving it after your bath. The Health and Care Professional Network recommends placing grab bars near bathrooms and baths and railings in stairwells and corridors. If required, enlist the assistance of a handyman or a family member.

Wear fit clothing, not loose

You want to feel safe and secure at home, yet loose clothing might indeed make you more susceptible to falling. Choose well-fitting clothing so that it does not restrict your movement or drag on the floor.

Use appropriate lighting

Another important problem is insufficient lighting. Light bulbs with a brighter color temperature should be installed by caregivers in stairways and narrow hallways to make a house more accessible for the elderly. MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital’s associate medical director of inpatient services, Robert Bunning, MD, urges installing nightlights in rooms and bathrooms for better vision at night.

Wear shoes

Socks are comforting, but they provide a sliding hazard. Wearing shoes can help to prevent falls at home. If shoes are too unpleasant, you can buy nonslip socks with grips on the bottoms of your feet.

Make the floor nonslip

Wet floor surfaces, including those in bathrooms, kitchens, and porches, can be extremely dangerous. The Health and Care Professional Network suggests using nonslip mats on slick surfaces to prevent falls.

Stay on one floor

Stairs, even with safeguards such as handrails and safety barriers, can provide a considerable fall danger. If feasible, seniors need to stay and live on one floor. Otherwise, take extra precautions when climbing stairs. If you can’t live on one floor, seek to reduce the number of times you go up and down the stairs.

Move with more caution

Many people fall on the floor of their homes because they move too rapidly from a sitting to a standing posture and reverse. It is as simple as taking your time to avoid falls like these. Seniors have to pause when they go from lying on a horizontal surface to sitting and sitting to standing. Moreover, seniors must wait before utilizing the stair railing, whether walking up or down.

Conclusion

Fall prevention involves injury prevention efforts for the senior. Caregivers or family members of seniors can help assist them in maintaining their rooms and stairways clean, mess-free, and well-equipped with lights, grips, handrails, padding, and nonslip matting to keep them secure and safe in their house. All of these efforts may go a long way toward improving the conditions of their houses and securing their home. In addition, in the case of a fall, having a good Medicare plan might assist ease unexpected medical bills.

Advanced Skilled Nursing for the Elderly in Las Vegas

People who require medical assistance daily but do not wish to reside in an assisted living home or hospital might benefit from advanced skilled nursing. Our professional nurses can provide treatment management, medication reminders, injections, and various other treatments. If the advanced skilled nursing service you want is not listed on this page, please tell us what you require. Our personnel will assist you in any way that you require.

The in-home nursing center you’re looking for is Health and Care Professional Network. For over 15 years, we have been providing the highest professional nursing services to the residents. In addition, we will provide the finest possible care for your loved ones at your home, ensuring their health and safety.