Are You Safe at Home?
Home is not always the safest place in the world.
Marie, 84, enjoys exotic travel: exploring markets in Africa, riding elephants in Thailand, trekking in Peru. Recently, after returning from one such adventure, she tripped over a throw rug in her own home, requiring a visit to the emergency room, a CT scan and several stitches.
Marie’s story, though unique in detail, is representative of a common, preventable problem. One-third of all adults over the age of 65 will fall this year, according to statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control. Two-thirds of all accidental deaths among this same demographic are the result of falls. And the majority of these falls occur inside the home.
So what can you do to make sure you are safe at home? The first step is to assess the number of common falling and tripping hazards around you. Here is a checklist of things to consider:
Outdoors
- Are there handrails at the front, side and back steps? Are they secure?
- Are steps steep and uneven?
- Are there broken or crumbling steps?
- Are there broken or uneven walkways around the home?
- Are there overgrown trees and shrubs obstructing walkways?
- Is the threshold at each entrance even with the porch or first step, or do you have to step up or down as you enter/exit the home?
Floors
- Are there uneven thresholds between rooms?
- Is the carpet loose or torn?
- Do you have throw rugs with curled edges or wrinkles?
- Are all carpets and throw rugs taped, tacked down or on non-skid backing?
- Do you have floor registers (especially in older homes) that can snag a walker or cane?
- Do you have cords (lamp, telephone, extension cords) running across floors? Keep cords near walls and out of walking paths.
- Are all walkways tidy? Remove objects from the floor that obstruct pathways or that you might trip over.
- Arrange furniture and other items so they are not in your way.
Stairs and Steps
- Do all interior steps have handrails?
- Do handrails go from the top of the steps all the way to the bottom?
- Are handrails securely fastened?
- Do you need handrails on both sides of the steps?
- Are steps and stairways clear of items?
- Are steps steep and uneven?
Kitchen
- Are frequently used items on shelves/in cabinets that are easily
accessible? - Is the refrigerator hard to open or unstable?
Bathrooms
- Is the bathroom entry too narrow to be used with a walker or cane?
- Do bathroom doors swing into sinks or toilets?
- Do sink faucets have lever handles (as opposed to knob handles that can be difficult to turn)?
- Is the bath tub too high to step in and out of easily?
- Does the bath or shower have a plastic mat or non-slip strips in them?
- Do bath mats outside the bath or shower have a non-slip backing?
- Are there glass doors on the shower or tub? Glass doors are more likely to shatter and cause injury in the event of a fall.
- Are there grab bars near the toilet?
- Are there grab bars both inside and outside the tub and shower. Are they positioned at a comfortable height for the individual?
Storage
- Is medication stored in an easily accessible location
(about waist level)? - Are items you use often stored in easily accessible locations
(about waist level)? - If you must use a stepstool, does it have a bar or handrail? Never climb on a chair or table to reach for something.
Lighting
- Are there lights over all porches and walkways outside the home?
- Do you have lighting at the top and bottom of the stairs?
- Are there light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs and at each end of long hallways?
- Do you have a lamp close to the bed that you can easily reach?
- Do you have nightlights in bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms?
- Are all light bulbs working?
Pets
- If you have pets, are food/water bowls located out of walkways?
- Do your pets frequently leave spills on the floor? Wipe up spills immediately to avoid slipping.
- Does your pet wear a bell on its collar so you know where it is and avoid tripping over it?
Other
- Do you have a telephone near your bed so you don’t have to jump up quickly to answer it?
- Keep your home at a moderate temperature. Being too hot or too cold can increase the likelihood of falling.
Some of these items carry a price tag that can seem prohibitive, but compared with the cost of an emergency room visit, rehab, loss of independence or even loss of life, they are well worth the investment. If you are injured in a fall, your quality of life likely may never be the same. Even if you have no resulting injuries, you may develop a fear of falling that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: you begin to limit your activities, which reduces your overall health and fitness, which increases your risk of falling. And statistics show that once you do fall, you are more likely to fall again.
If you can’t make some of these home modifications yourself, perhaps a family member, friend or your faith community can help. You might also call your local Area Agency on Aging to inquire about available community resources. Making such simple changes to your home can reduce your risk of falling and can help you stay safe at home, even if you like to travel.