Tips for Fall Prevention at Home
December 22, 2009 – 6:30 pm
Falling is the number one injury that the elderly are hospitalized for. However, it’s important to have a fall proof house for everyone that resides in your home. Some people recover quickly from a fall while others experience fractures and other injuries that prevent them from living independently. Instead of taking a chance, use these tips and take fall prevention action in your house.
- Pick up large and small items that litter the floor, especially in the high traffic areas. You never know what might cause you or a family member to fall, so it’s important to clean up spills immediately and keep rooms tidy. Keeping a trash can in every room can prevent people from tossing items onto the floor.
- Installing handrails, grab bars and other devices can provide some safety. You can put grab bars near the tub/shower as well as a shower bench or tub chair for elderly relatives staying with you. The bathroom is a place prone for slip and falls.
- Tape electronic cords along the wall and keep the cords out of hallways and other walkways. Although it might be convenient to tape the cord underneath a rug, this can be dangerous. The cord will create a small bump on top of the rug, which can promote trips and falls.
- Avoid using area rugs throughout your home, because it’s easy to trip on the corners of them since they’re not always flush with the floor. You will probably be surprised at how many rugs you have in your house.
Assessing your home regularly for fall prevention is important regardless of the ages of the individuals living with you. Depending on how bad the fall is even a young, healthy person can break a foot or twist an ankle. Following some of these tips can help reduce the risk of falling and ensure that your home is a safer place to be.
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Tags: fall prevention, fall proof home