10 Ways to Prevent Fall Injuries at Home
Easy fixes around the home to support aging in place
Each year, millions of older adults must visit the emergency department for a fall-related injury. Although not every fall will cause a catastrophic, life-changing injury, when it does, the result can be devastating.
One out of five falls does cause a serious injury such as a broken bone or a head injury. Moreover, falls are the most common source of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and cause more than 95% of hip fractures.
While AARP has shown that 77% of adults 50 and up want to continue living at home as they age, studies suggest that their homes may not be as suitable to their wishes and needs as they once were.
Research from the National Center of Injury Prevention and Control shows that among adults 65 and over, 79.2% of fall-related Emergency Department (ED) visits were due to falls at home compared to 20.8% of falls not at home. Researchers also showed that the most common places for falls that occurred at home were the bedroom (25%), followed by stairs (22.9%) and bathrooms (22.7%).
While most caretakers and older adults know the basics of fall-proofing a home –removing scatter rugs or improving lighting — we created a list specifically for where older adults fall the most. When falls result in an injury, it can make it hard to get around, perform everyday activities, or even live independently. With a few simple changes, however, you can eliminate tripped hazards, reduce the risk of falling, and make your home a safe and comfortable place to live independently.
Here are our 10 suggestions:
Bedroom
1. Make sure the light near the bed is easy to reach. If you must get up at night, you know you’re just a click away from better visibility. If the light switch is out of reach, consider adding a bedside lamp. See below for a helpful guide.
2. Keep the path from your bed to the bathroom clear. Decreased bladder and bowel control can cause an older adult to rush to the bathroom. Clear the path to the bathroom of furniture and clutter, and place a nightlight or two along the route so you can see where you’re walking.
3. Adjust bed and bedding. Your feet should be able to firmly touch the floor when sitting on the edge of your bed. Sheets and bedding that hang on the floor should be changed to avoid the risk of tripping.
Stairs
4. Keep steps tidy and clutter-free. Give yourself a clear path up and down by making sure things like shoes, clothes, papers, and books are all put away and not left sitting on steps.
5. Considering adding a second handrail. Most staircases only have one rail, but tightly fastened handrails on both sides will help keep you balanced and supported.
6. Add strips of contrasting color to help visualize your stairs better. Adding colored tape to the edges of each step will help you differentiate each step. Pick a color of tape that will stand out against the color of the stairs. Make sure to put the tape on the top and over the edge of each step.
7. Make sure there is good lighting at the top and bottom of the stairs. Overhead lights are ideal. A light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs keeps you safe when going in either direction.
Bathroom
8. Add a non-slip rubber mat to the bathtub or shower floor. The mat’s traction will help keep you from slipping when stepping on wet surfaces.
9. Install grab bars by the toilet and tub. The hard slippery surfaces of the bathroom can make falling even more dangerous. Having properly installed grab bars around the toilet and tub provide needed support and balance.
10. Consider getting a shower chair and a hand-held showerhead. These can help you avoid reaching or straining during your shower.
Newer Technology
While not entirely a prevention strategy, newer AI-powered remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology can help predict and prevent falls. While medical alert systems like Life Alert have existed for decades, these devices are no longer the best tech (or best value) available for detecting falls and have their problems. Technologically advanced companies using artificial intelligence and machine learning like Somatix passively collect and analyze continuous streams of patient data using gesture detection to identify trends and provide predictive insights. Not only does Somatix’s wearable track over 14 metrics, including fall risk, dehydration, and readmission risk, but it provides an integrated cloud-based dashboard that allows patients, caregivers, and physicians to review alerts, insights, and reports.
