Introduction

The CDC (Centers for Disease Prevention and Control) indicate in recent publications that “Each year, millions of seniors, 65 years of age or older, fall.” These falls can often be severe, and there is strong evidence that for the elderly, those in recovery, or those with disabilities, each successive fall increases the likelihood of a further fall. In fact, also according to the CDC, there were 9.6 million non-fatal injuries in the elderly population due to falls in 2015. Another 33,000 were fatal in that same year. (Go to cdc.gov for sources.) These facts are clearly sobering, but even more worrisome since many of these falls occur at home and could easily be prevented.

Factors Contributing to Falls in the Home

Older adults and others who have lost some level of ability face many challenges at home, some intrinsic to independence and some extrinsic, some related to home safety and some, surprisingly, related to caregivers. Here are some common factors that we all need to keep in mind:

• loss of total motor control

• Medications that cause drowsiness or dizziness

• Home security issues that increase the dangers of mobility

• Inadequate support devices to aid mobility.

• Lack of continuous physical activity and at an adequate pace

Of all these, clearly the easiest to eliminate or mitigate fall into a single category above: home security issues. This is probably the most critical of all, as the removal of any item in this category is likely to profoundly and significantly reduce the risk of falls in the home.

Caregivers and their role in home security

Family caregivers or contracted caregivers, seniors and others need to be acutely aware of fall hazards in the home and help those who need help avoid these hazards. Caregivers must be proactive in ensuring the safety of those they care for through awareness, communication, and correction of hidden and/or obvious dangers in the home. This can be achieved through vigilance and participation. For example, caregivers should try to put themselves in the shoes of the people they care for and predetermine what challenges they face in and around the home. It is challenging enough for those in need of care to simply accept their position of aging, disability or otherwise, and therefore caregivers must be sensitive to the feelings of the elderly and others while still vigilant in maintaining the home. sure. Caregivers really need to be unsung heroes or angels, operating in the background and not making the elderly or other dependents feel worse about the loss of some independence.

Risk mitigation and steps towards security

The CDC, as well as other sources, provide insightful but insightful advice on how to minimize the risk of falls and injuries. In fact, the National Safety Council provides some excellent guidance in their recent article “Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention Will Keep Older Adults Safe and Independent” (click here for source). Most of us can use a little thought on this topic and easily create a checklist of items to assess in our homes to make them safer for the elderly, recovering, or disabled. What is provided below is a good start and may give you some additional ideas and guidance. Please note that this is naturally offered as a suggestion and not as medical advice.

kitchen safety

• Kitchen equipment, utensils, dishes, glasses, and food must be properly stored and easily accessible.

• No type of carpet or similar should be placed on the kitchen floor.

• The floors must always be free of any type of spill (oil, food, etc.)

• Use countertop toasters when feasible, making them easily accessible

• When taller cabinets must be accessed, a stool with a handrail should be easily accessible.

• Non-slip floor cleaner just for cleaning the floor

General Carpet Concerns

• Wall-to-wall carpeting must be installed completely and correctly, with no loose edges, tears, buckles, or holes.

• While not always possible, solid colors are better because they provide more consistency for those who have mobility issues; they also show cleaner edges.

• Shag style and deep pile rugs should be avoided

Concerns and bathroom safety

• Make sure bathroom mats are slip-resistant (and not old ones where the slip resistance has worn off); make sure they are placed near the shower/bathroom area.

• Make sure there are mirrors on multiple levels to ensure the client does not have difficulty or reach to use a mirror.

• Whenever possible, install grab bars near the toilet, bathtub, and/or shower.

• The tub/shower floor should be slip resistant, if not be sure to install slip resistant safety strips.

• When feasible, use a soap dispenser mounted in a highly accessible area in the shower/bathtub.

• If necessary, a shower chair is placed in the bathing area.

• The toilet seat must be of the raised type or a toilet seat with armrests must be installed on the toilet to ensure safe balance when sitting on or getting up from the toilet.

bedroom safety

• Key security items should be within reach of the bed, for example, on the nightstand. Consider a safe lamp, flashlight, phone, cane, etc.

• If applicable, a raised mattress to assist in getting in or out of bed

• The floor, particularly around the bed, should be free of clutter, papers, and any other items.

• Night lights are appropriately placed in the bedroom and along any route to the bathroom.

Outdoors and around the house/apartment

• This category naturally only applies in some cases

• Make sure all walkways are clear of debris, branches, leaves, rocks, and the like.

• Make sure all stone and masonry is solid and not loose in any way.

• Make sure all walkways and driveways are as level as possible

• Make sure all walkways are clean and not covered in moss, algae, oil, or other slippery substances.

General Living Space Concerns

• In areas that could be classified as walkways, make sure that low furniture is moved out of the way. Examples include coffee tables, folding end tables, ottomans, floor plants, etc.

• Light switches work properly and are not obstructed.

• No loose rugs or rugs that can slip

• Rooms and mobile space are free of furniture obstructions.

• Where appropriate, use sound-activated lamps

• Where applicable, use glow-in-the-dark markers on various items that require handling, eg, cabinet handles, light switches, etc.

• All electrical cables for power, data, telephone, etc. they are properly routed and secured and are not near pathways or living spaces.

• All furniture in good condition, resistant and safe.

• There are several cordless phones available, each marked with glow-in-the-dark markers, and they make sure they can be located audibly (i.e., they have a phone paging feature).

• No loose tiles or decking

• Night lights appropriately placed throughout the house

• Infrared sensor lights up in certain areas where brighter light is required at night

Technological considerations

• Installing carbon monoxide detectors were appropriate

• Install smoke detectors outside appropriate

• If necessary, depending on the level of independence, arrange a medical alert device/subscription

• Install detectors that also have emergency lighting and/or install motion detection lighting where applicable.