Preventing Falls At Home

Anyone can trip and fall over a loose carpet edge or a laundry basket that got left in the hallway. If you have someone at home who has some difficulty getting around and uses a cane or a walker, or is on crutches, you should take extra precautions to avoid taking a spill. Here’s a checklist to make your home as “fall safe” as possible.

ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE

• Remove all throw rugs
• Secure all carpet edges
• Remove low furniture and objects on the floor
• Reduce clutter in general
• Remove cords and wires on the floor
• Check lighting for adequate illumination at
• night, especially in pathway to the bathroom.
• Secure carpet treads and remove clutter from stairs
• Install handrails on staircases
• Eliminate chairs that are too low to sit down or get up from.
• Avoid using floor wax unless it’s a non-skid brand
• Ensure that telephones can be reached from the floor

IN THE BATHROOMS

• Install grab bars in the tub or shower and by the toilet
• Use rubber mats in the tub and/or shower
• Take up floor mats when not in use
• Install a raised toilet seat if necessary

OUTSIDE

• Repair cracked and uneven sidewalks
• Install handrails on stairs and step
• Trim shrubberies to clear pathways to the house
• Install adequate lighting by doorways and along walkways.