Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room

Many falls happen at home, where we spend much of our time and tend to move around without thinking about our safety. There are many changes you can make to your home that will help prevent falls and better ensure your safety.

On this page:

Floors, stairways, and hallways

• Ensure there are handrails on both sides of any stairs, and make sure they are secure. Hold the handrails when you go up or down stairs, even when you are carrying something. Don’t let anything you’re carrying block your view of the steps.
• Ensure there is good lighting with light switches at the top and bottom of stairs and on each end of a long hall. Consider using motion-activated lights that plug into electrical outlets and automatically turn on when you walk by them to help illuminate stairwells and pathways.
• Keep areas where you walk tidy. Don’t leave books, papers, clothes, or shoes on the floor or stairs.
• Check that all carpets are fixed firmly to the floor, so they won’t slip. Put no-slip strips, which you can buy at any hardware store, on tile and wooden floors.
• Don’t use throw rugs or small area rugs.
• Don’t walk on slippery, newly washed floors.

Bathrooms

• Mount grab bars near toilets and on both the inside and outside of your tub and shower.
• Place nonskid mats, strips, or carpet on all surfaces that may get wet.
• Remember to leave a light on in the bathroom at night or use a night light that turns on automatically in the dark.

Bedrooms

• Put night lights and light switches close to your bed.
• Keep a flashlight by your bed in case the power goes out and you need to get up.
• Place a landline or well-charged phone near your bed.

Kitchen

• Keep frequently used pots, pans, and kitchen utensils in a place where they are easy to reach.
• Clean up spills immediately.
• Prepare food while seated to prevent fatigue or loss of balance.

Outdoor spaces

• If you have steps leading to your front door, make sure they are not broken or uneven.
• Add non‐slip material to outdoor stairways.
• Keep the lawn, deck, or porch areas clear of debris, such as fallen branches.
• Consider installing a grab bar near the front door to provide balance while you are locking or unlocking the door.
• Turn on your porch light at night and if you leave during the day but plan on returning home after dark.
• In the winter, treat outdoor walkways with an ice melt product or sand to make them less slippery.

Other living areas

• Keep electrical cords near walls and away from walking paths.
• Arrange your furniture (especially low coffee tables) and other objects so they are not in your way when you walk.
• Make sure your sofas and chairs are the right height for you to get in and out of easily.
• Keep items you use often at waist level or within easy reach.
• Don’t stand on a chair or table to reach something that’s too high — use a “reach stick” instead or ask for help. Reach sticks are special grabbing tools that you can buy at many hardware or medical-supply stores. If you use a step stool, make sure it’s steady and has a handrail on top. Have someone stand next to you.
• Don’t let your cat or dog trip you. Know where your pet is whenever you’re standing or walking.
• Keep a list of emergency numbers in large print near each landline phone and save them under “favorites” on your mobile phone.

If you have fallen, your doctor might suggest that an occupational therapist, physical therapist, or nurse visit your home. These health care providers can assess your home’s safety and advise you about making changes to lower your risk of falls.

Tools to get help

Read and share this infographic and help spread the word about how to help prevent falls.

If you’re concerned about falling, set up systems to ensure you can get help if you fall. One option is installing an emergency response system. If you fall or need emergency help, you push a button on a special necklace or bracelet to alert 911. There is a fee for this service, and it’s usually not covered by insurance.

Another option is to carry a well-charged cordless or mobile phone with you as you move throughout the house. Have close friends and family on speed dial. Consider setting up a smart home device (a small speaker that listens and responds to commands when you call its name) that can quickly connect you to contacts or emergency response teams. Some smartwatches can be set up to make emergency calls at the push of a button and others can even detect sudden fall-like movements and automatically call for help. Ask family and friends for help setting up these tools.

Home improvement resources

Many state and local governments have education and/or home modification programs to help older people prevent falls. Check with your local health department, search the Eldercare Locator, or call 800-677-1116 to find your local Area Agency on Aging to see if there is a program near you.

Read more about falls and falls prevention.

Read about this topic in Spanish. Lea sobre este tema en español.

For more information

National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modifications
213-740-1364
[email protected]
www.homemods.org

Rebuilding Together
800-473-4229
[email protected]
www.rebuildingtogether.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
800-232-4636
888-232-6348 (TTY)
[email protected]
www.cdc.gov

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control                                                                                                           
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
800-232-4636
888-232-6348 (TTY)
cdcinfo@cdc. gov
www.cdc.gov/injury

National Falls Prevention Resource Center
571-527-3900
www.ncoa.org/center-for-healthy-aging/falls-resource-center/

This content is provided by the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA). NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and up to date.

Content reviewed:
September 12, 2022

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How to Prevent Falls at Home

One out of four older adults will fall this year, but fewer than half of them will talk with their doctors about it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Per the CDC, falls are the No. 1 cause of injuries in adults over 65, resulting in hip fractures, cuts, and even serious head and brain injuries that can be fatal.

Even when there’s no serious injury, a fall can be so frightening that people may avoid certain activities out of fear they’ll fall again. And that’s not unreasonable, because if you fall once, your chance of falling again doubles, according to the CDC.

Whether it’s slippery floors, rickety stairs, or electrical cords, some of the most common causes of falls are in the home, where you might have a false sense of security. That’s why fall prevention starts with creating a safe living space.

It doesn’t have to involve a complete house remodel. You can make your home safe from falls with just a few basic changes. Elder care experts offer the following advice for preventing falls at home.

1. Clean up clutter. The easiest way to prevent falls is to keep your home neat and tidy. Remove all clutter, such as stacks of old newspapers and magazines, especially from hallways and staircases.
2. Repair or remove tripping hazards. Sometimes home fixtures can contribute to falls, which can then lead to back pain and other injuries. Examine every room and hallway, looking for items such as loose carpet, slippery throw rugs, or wood floorboards that stick up. Then repair, remove, or replace those items for more effective fall prevention.
3. Install grab bars and handrails. If your mobility is limited, these safety devices can be crucial for going up and down stairs, getting on and off the toilet, and stepping in and out of the bathtub without injuring yourself. Gary Kaplan, DO, the founder and medical director of the Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine in McLean, Virginia, suggests installing grab bars by toilets and bathtubs and handrails in stairways and hallways. Have a handyman or family member help with this if necessary.
4. Avoid loose clothing. You want to feel comfortable at home, but very baggy clothes can sometimes make you more likely to fall. Opt for better-fitting and properly hemmed clothing that doesn’t bunch up or drag on the ground.
5. Light it right. Inadequate lighting is another major hazard. To create a home that’s easier to navigate, install brighter light bulbs where needed, particularly in stairways and narrow hallways. Robert Bunning, MD, the associate medical director of inpatient services at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC, recommends adding night-lights in bedrooms and bathrooms for better guidance at night.
6. Wear shoes. Socks may be comfortable, but they present a slipping risk. Preventing falls at home can be as simple as wearing shoes. You can also purchase nonslip socks that have grips on the soles of the feet if shoes are too uncomfortable.
7. Make it nonslip. Bathtubs and showers, as well as floors in kitchens, bathrooms, and porches, can become extremely dangerous when wet. To prevent falls on slick surfaces, Dr. Kaplan recommends nonslip mats.
8. Live on one level. Even with precautions like guardrails, stairs can present a significant falling hazard. “If possible, live on one level,” says Kaplan. “Otherwise, be extra careful when you negotiate stairs.” If it’s not possible to live on one level, try to limit the trips you take up and down the stairs.
9. Move more carefully. Dr. Bunning explains that many people fall at home by moving too quickly from a sitting to a standing position and vice versa. Preventing falls can be as easy as taking your time. “All you have to do is pause after going from lying down to sitting and from sitting to standing,” he says. “Also take a pause before using the railing on stairs, whether you’re going up or down.”
10. Join a preventive exercise program. Many community centers, gyms, and health systems offer exercise programs for older adults aimed at preventing falls. These exercise regimens focus on improving balance and strengthening muscles. A physical therapist can also recommend exercise programs and assistive devices, if necessary, to keep you safe.

For older adults, fall prevention means injury prevention. Ask your loved ones to help you ensure that your rooms and stairways are clutter-free and well-equipped with lighting, handrails, grab bars, and nonslip mats — all of which can go a long way toward keeping you safe in your home. In the event a fall does occur, having a proper Medicare plan can help alleviate surprise medical costs.

Additional reporting by Rachael Robertson. 

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Prevention of falls

The World Health Organization estimates that a third of all people over 65 years of age fall annually, more than half of them repeatedly.

Chief Nurse of GAUZ TO “Regional Treatment and Rehabilitation Center” Shevchenko Oksana Sergeevna gave a lecture for employees and patients of our Center on the organization of prevention of falls in medical institutions, risk factors and protection against falls, as well as preventive measures.

The incidence of falls syndrome increases with age from 30% in patients aged 65 years to 50% among those aged 80 years and older in those living at home, reaching 60% in those living in nursing homes. Approximately 10-15% of falls result in serious injuries such as head injuries or hip fractures, 20-30% are injured resulting in reduced mobility and functional status. Falls are the fifth leading cause of death in the elderly.

❗Risk factors:
Identifies risk factors for falls and protective factors that can reduce this risk. This approach defines a population strategy for reducing the risk of falls and their consequences, which should be aimed at combating risk factors and strengthening protective factors.
The World Health Organization identifies 4 groups of risk factors for falls:

1. Biological, behavioral, environmental and socio-economic. Biological risk factors include individual problems of the state of the human body. These factors can be non-modifiable (age, female sex, dementia) and potentially modifiable. The latter include changes associated with aging (decreased vision, hearing, decreased muscle strength, urinary incontinence, gait disturbances due to changes in the musculoskeletal system, central and peripheral nervous system, etc. ), decreased physical functioning, predemented cognitive disorders, multiple chronic diseases, taking a large number of drugs (polypharmacy). Biological factors interact with other risk factors for falls.

2. Behavioral risk factors include factors associated with a person’s lifestyle: excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of physical activity. These risk factors are potentially modifiable when strategies are applied to change a person’s behavior and lifestyle. Environmental risk factors for falls create the conditions for falls, especially in people who have biological and behavioral risk factors for falls.

3. This group of factors includes unsafe living and outdoor spaces: narrow steps, slippery floor surfaces, lack of handrails, insufficient lighting in the apartment or house, features of the building layout, potholes on the sidewalk, etc.

4. Socio-economic risk factors for falls are associated with the social conditions of life and the economic status of a person, his social interactions (living alone increases the risk of falls and their adverse outcomes), insufficient social support, limited availability of means for an elderly person to adapt to the environment.

❗Key fall protection factors

Includes providing an accessible and safe environment. Behavioral change is a key component of healthy aging and fall prevention.
✅ Stop smoking;
✅ Moderation in alcohol consumption;
✅Maintenance of normal body weight in periods of middle and old age;
✅Exercise helps prevent falls.

The problem of falls is exacerbated by the lack of awareness among older people and their relatives (caregivers) about the risks of falls and the possibilities for preventing them.

Many older people and their families do not perceive falls (especially without injury) as an important problem and do not inform the doctor about them.

Doctors in many specialties, focused on the treatment of the “profile” disease, are inert in identifying falls and assessing their risk in patients of older age groups.

Ensuring an accessible and safe environment and improving the safety of living conditions To reduce the risk of falls, it is necessary to implement a set of measures to ensure an accessible and safe environment, including in accordance with the Accessible Environment program (approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 01. 12.2015 No. 1297 “On Approval of the State Program of the Russian Federation “Accessible Environment” for 2011-2020”).

Keeping your home safe is an essential part of falling risk reduction. In this context, the development and support of services for the arrangement and repair of the place of residence of the elderly (apartments, houses), ensuring the availability of these services for citizens of older age groups is relevant. The development of the production of equipment for apartments / houses is relevant, allowing them to be adapted to the needs of an elderly person and his disabilities.

Increasing the availability of environmental adaptation and minor rehabilitation facilities Creation of resource centers to provide adaptation/rehabilitation facilities for the elderly, including the possibility of renting functional beds, wheelchairs, etc. The development of regional production of small rehabilitation means, orthopedic shoes and orthopedic devices is topical.

#flrc #prevention of falls #old agejoy #healthy #day of the elderly

Dear citizens!

The People’s Front is conducting a survey to identify problems associated with making an appointment with a doctor through the State Services portal. By answering questions, you provide valuable feedback and help improve the quality of the appointment process, as well as make primary care more accessible.

Why falls are dangerous in the elderly

The consequences of falls are dangerous not only through injuries. Falls are also dangerous with psychological and social consequences: the fear of falling again can lead to the development of depression. People withdraw into themselves, feel insecure, communicate less, go out less often, begin to eat worse due to loss of appetite. All this contributes to a decrease in the quality of life, an acceleration of the loss of physical and cognitive functioning, and an increased need for outside help and care.

In addition, falls have enormous economic consequences for the family and society. The cost of falls and their consequences is one of the leading health care costs worldwide and continues to rise.

Fall prevention is an important goal for healthy aging, maintaining the quality of life of the elderly and his independence from outside help. Each region is gradually introducing a set of measures aimed at preventing falls and fractures in the elderly and senile
age, which was developed as part of the federal project “Older Generation” of the national project “Demography”. The Chuvash Republic is no exception; an interdisciplinary working group has been created in the region to develop and implement such a set of measures, which included specialists from various fields – geriatricians, orthopedic traumatologists, endocrinologists, rheumatologists, and specialists from social services for the population.

At the Republican Geriatric Center, since February 2022, an office for the reception of an orthopedic traumatologist has been operating, now the procedure for interaction with social services, patient routing is being approved in the republic, and the organization of an office for the prevention of falls and fractures will be the final point.

Half of the cases of falls can be prevented with the right housekeeping. The first thing relatives can do is to organize the space in the apartment of an elderly person as much as possible. Remove unnecessary items that you can trip over. Make sure there is good lighting, a night light, non-slip floors, you can add neat handrails along the route to the bathroom or kitchen, and comfortable indoor shoes.

The next basic recommendation of geriatricians for at-risk patients is to strengthen the muscles. This can be done through exercise and nutrition. So, a sufficient amount of protein is important in the diet, if in middle age the protein norm is about 0.8 g per kg of body weight, then in old age this figure should not be lower than 1.2 g per kg. Need to move more. Walk outside for at least 150 minutes a week and do exercises and breathing exercises at home. In order to have a point of support in case of imbalance when walking, it is recommended to use a cane. Moreover, it should not be shy, but should be perceived as an element of the image. Among the devices for the prevention of falls, various solutions are offered on the market today: femoral protectors to protect against a fracture of the femoral neck, fixators, orthoses, bandages, exoskeletons.