One of the hardest decisions many of us must make as we grow older is when to tell our parents it’s time to go into a nursing home or some sort of assisted living program. It is never easy to tell someone you love that it is time to give up their freedom. One thing that you can do that may help delay when that conversation must come is to take precautions to make their homes more fall-proof as they get older.
Fall Statistics for the Elderly
According to the CDC, over 3.5 million elderly people go to the emergency room every year due to falls which result in 1.2 million hospitalizations and 41,000 deaths. Falls are the second most common cause of preventable deaths in the United States. Half of all accidental deaths that occur inside the home are caused by falls. In addition, Falls result in over 80 million dollars in medical care each year. When someone is older and cannot bounce back from a broken hip or even a broken wrist like a younger person could, often the nursing home is the next stop for a serious fall accident victim. Thus, anything you can do to reduce the risk of falls in the home by elderly persons may help them stay in the home longer as they grow older.
Identifying Fall Hazards
There are many ways elderly people may fall in their own homes. Trips over clutter on the floor or slip and fall accidents involving spills or leaks are some of the most obvious. But some things that people don’t always consider when fall-proofing their loved one’s home are things like:
- losing one’s balance while standing on a step stool or ladder to get something down from a high shelf;
- changes in elevations indoors, rooms, or entryways causing unstable folks to misstep;
- inadequate or insecure railing along stairs, patios, and elevation changes;
- uneven ground in the yard.
How to Remove Fall Risks From the Home
Inspecting for Trip Hazards
The first thing that you need to do to eliminate fall risks in the home is to conduct a thorough inspection of the property for obvious trip hazards. Is there clutter that needs to be picked up and/or organized? Are there low furniture pieces such as footrests or tables that might get bumped into as the resident is walking? Are there items that can catch or snag clothes as someone passes leading to a fall? Are there loose cords that could be replaced with cordless or less cluttery cords to avoid a trip hazard? All of these things can help prevent a trip and fall accident in the home.
Reducing the Risk of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents account for about 1/8th of all falls sending people to the emergency room. Making sure areas, where water is likely to meet the floor, are guarded against becoming slippery is a must. These areas commonly include all doors, bathrooms, and the kitchen. It may also include water closets or areas where water heaters are kept. There are many types of anti-slip floor mats that can be used to reduce the risk of falls in areas likely to get wet. Be sure you select a mat that does not stick up so much that it catches on the door or on feet and bunches up to become a trip hazard. Rubber no-slip mats may be a better option than a decorative mat that slides easily.
Eliminate the Need for Stepping Stools and Ladders in the Home
There are many things you can do to reduce the risk of falls from ladders and stepping stools. First off, help your loved one go through things they have stored in high places and get the ones they need to access down into lower spaces for them. Look through all closets and cabinets to ensure that anything needed is down low. It may be time to sort through and dispose of things that are not truly needed. When doing this, do not forget to clear out the attic if it requires stair access. Attic stairs are some of the most wobbly steps we encounter in the home.
Another thing you can do is to check the stepping stools and ladders around the home and decide which ones are not really safe to keep there. Those that are not safe should be removed from the home.
Have a plan for things that require access up high but cannot be eliminated. Lightbulbs are going to burn out. Is there someone they can call to change a lightbulb? More importantly, will they call someone else or are the so stubborn they will try with a ladder, chair, or whatever is handy? If they are of the stubborn breed, you need to develop an action plan for you or someone else to change all of the lightbulbs out for your loved one on a schedule so that they do not burn out when you are not there to help.
Reduce or Eliminate Elevation Change Risks
Elevation changes pose trip hazards and can cause a loss of balance even just stepping across them the wrong way. Some homes have elevation changes between several rooms. If there are many of these, the home simply may not be suitable for elderly people. One area elevation change that may be overlooked is in entryways. Patios are often elevated to promote water flow away from the door. But these elevations can be trip hazards for people who tend to shuffle their feet. There are a number of solutions on the market such as wheelchair ramps and doorway transitions that can eliminate trip hazards.
Check Stair, Balcony, and Deck Railings
While homes with multi-levels are generally not ideal for elderly living, sometimes it cannot be avoided. Thus, in order to reduce the risks posed by stairs, you need to inspect the rails. Remember that id the stair rail wobbles, so will the frail person holding onto it. Make sure railings along stairs, balconies, and decks are sturdy enough to support someone if they lose balance and fall against it. Balcony rail collapse even from a low-level deck can result in traumatic brain injuries to an elderly person.
Yards Can Pose a Fall Risk
Lastly, take a look at the yard. Are there clear paved paths to get to and from the house or is it an unlevel walkway that someone might lose their balance on? Additionally, have you made provisions for mowing and yard care? Reducing the need to walk in an uneven yard can reduce fall risks.
Conclusion
We all want our loved ones to have more freedom and live out their golden years where they are the most comfortable. Taking steps to inspect the area and eliminate fall risks can help keep your loved ones in their homes and out of the hospital and nursing homes.
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