Falls are a common concern for older adults and people with limited mobility. To help create a safer home environment, you should consider using fall prevention measures in every room. This blog provides practical tips and suggestions for implementing room-by-room home fall prevention strategies, empowering caregivers to create a safer and more comfortable living space.
Home Fall Prevention Guide
The areas of the home that have the highest fall risk are:
- Hallways and living rooms
- Bathrooms
- Bedrooms
- Kitchens
Let’s go through each of these rooms and offer some tips on how to minimize their fall hazards.
Hallways and Living Rooms
Hallways and living areas are often overlooked, but they’re major fall risk areas in the home. Here are a few ways you can make these spaces safer and easier to navigate:
- Keep it Clear: Clutter can be a major tripping hazard. Make sure to keep hallways free of loose items.
- Illuminate the Way: Adequate lighting is essential for preventing falls, especially in low-light areas. Consider installing additional lighting fixtures in darker hallways, and install nightlights (automatic or motion-activated) so these spaces won’t fall completely dark at nighttime.
- Address Trip Hazards: Inspect your hallways for potential trip hazards, such as loose carpet, uneven flooring, or worn-out rugs. If the hallway has tile or hardwood flooring, you might feel inclined to add rugs for extra traction — but rugs are actually a significant fall hazard. It’s better to provide the person you’re caring for with non-slip socks or a cane/walker.
Related Blog: Five Fall Risk Areas In & Out of the Home
Bathroom
The bathroom is often a hotbed for falls due to its slippery surfaces. Bathroom safety equipment not only makes the room safer, but also improves the comfort and convenience of the space so your loved one enjoys it more and feels less trepidation about bathing.
- Grab the Bars: Install sturdy grab bars near the toilet, shower, and bathtub to provide support and stability.
- Non-Slip Solutions: Use non-slip mats in the shower and bathtub to reduce the risk of slipping.
- Sit and Relax: If you’re not able to create a walk-in shower, then it’s helpful to use a bath chair or transfer bench to make it easier to get in and out of the tub or shower.
Related Blog: The Best Equipment to Reduce the Risk of Falls in the Bathroom
Bedroom
The bedroom should be a peaceful retreat for the person in your care, but it can be surprisingly hazardous in the early hours of the morning or late at night. Here are a few ways you can minimize fall risk in the bedroom:
- Bed Rails: For those who need extra support, bed rails can help prevent falls while getting in and out of bed. They can also prevent the person in your care from accidentally falling out of bed in the middle of the night.
- Automatic Lighting: Consider installing motion-activated lights or nightlights to provide illumination without the need to fumble for switches in the dark.
- Clear the Clutter: We have the tendency to store lots of personal belongings and valuables in the bedroom, but all this clutter can be a trip hazard when it’s not properly organized or stored away. Try to pick up the bedroom as best you can and keep items off the floor. If the person you’re caring for has difficulty picking things off the shelves or floor, you can provide them with a reacher.
Related Blog: How To Tell if Your Loved One is at Risk of Falling
Kitchen
Like the bathroom, the kitchen can also be a dangerous place for those with limited mobility because of sharp instruments and slippery surfaces. Here are a few ways you can make the kitchen area safer:
- Mobility Aids: A cane or walker can provide stability and support while cooking or preparing meals.
- Smart Appliances: Consider installing stoves and ovens with automatic shutoff features. These can be especially helpful for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease who may forget to turn off appliances.
- Non-Slip Socks: Non-slip socks and indoor shoes can help the person in your care avoid slipping on water or food scraps that have fallen on the floor. It’s better to use these than rugs or floor mats, which are major trip hazards and not very well-suited for kitchen areas.
Related Blog: What if Your Parent Refuses to Use a Walker?
Additional Home Fall Prevention Strategies
There are so many other ways you can minimize fall risk indoors and outside the home. Download NOVA’s Home Safety Toolbox for more practical tips on fall prevention!
