Fall Prevention Tips for Elderly at Home

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Falls, slips and trips lead to broken hips, broken wrists and other injuries, and are a leading cause of disability among the older population. Falls in the home can result in ill health, lengthy hospital stays, residential care, loss of independence, and greatly affect quality of life. Making elderly people’s homes safer can help prevent them falling and seriously injuring themselves.

How to Make the Home Safer to Prevent Elderly Falls

Various aspects of the home environment can be improved to reduce the risk of someone having a fall. Family, friends, neighbours and carers can help make things safer for an elderly person while allowing him or her to stay independent and self sufficient.

Here are some suggestions for improving safety in the home:

1. Clear away clutter – Keep walkways clear of furniture and other obstacles such as shoes, books, newspapers and magazines. In particular, look out for trailing wires from appliances that may cause an elderly person to trip over. People also sometimes trip over their family pets if they don’t realise they are there, so fit brightly coloured collars to make them more visible.
2. Make furniture safe – Make sure furniture heights are appropriate, such as armchairs and sofas, which may prove difficult for an elderly person to get out of if they are too low. Height allowances may also need to be made for beds, toilets, baths and showers. Remove casters from underneath furniture, as it can move if leaned upon or held onto for balance.
3. Put things within easy reach – Items used regularly in the home should be within easy reach, especially cupboard doors, the oven and microwave, kettle, fridge and freezer, and sockets and switches. Consider fitting a letterbox cage to the front door to prevent the need for stooping to pick up mail.
4. Ensure floors and carpets are safe – Ill-fitting carpets and loose rugs and mats are an accident waiting to happen. Replace or repair bunched up and frayed carpets and make sure they are secured properly, especially on the stairs. Non-slip mats should be placed under rugs in the kitchen, bathroom and on stair landings. Slippery flooring should be replaced. Place non-slip mats in the bath and shower.
5. Make sure the home is well lit – Homes should be well lit with easily reachable light switches, especially in hazardous places such as the stairs and kitchen. Nightlights in the bedroom, hallway and bathroom may be useful in the event of an elderly person having to get up to use the toilet in the night.
6. Install handrails where necessary – Make sure stairs have securely fixed handrails at an appropriate height on both sides of the stairs, and install additional handrails where necessary, such as in the bath, shower and next to the toilet. Standing on a set of non-slip steps with a handrail and safety chain to reach high objects is safer than standing on a chair.