Fall prevention is important to consider as you age. Your physical health will change, it’s an inevitable truth of life! Fall prevention is crucial to consider because falls can lead to serious injury, especially in older adults. Because of this, we discuss some simple, but effective tips to prevent falls, slips, and other accidents in your home.
Increase Lighting Throughout Your Home
To make a home safe, you can start by simply modifying the light inside your home. For example, if there are some areas in your house that do not receive light, both night and day, you should look into installing or enhancing your lights. It is also important to increase lighting at the bottom and top of staircases, where slips and falls commonly occur.
Regularly Undergo Eye Check-Ups
You can make the quality of living in your home safer by ensuring that your eyesight is on par. If you wear glasses, make sure you have a current prescription and that you are using glasses advised by a doctor. Tint-changing lenses can be hazardous when coming from outside into your home. To further prevent accidents, you can remove your glasses upon entry or wait for the lenses to adjust.
Remove Home Hazards
Some common home hazards include:
- Boxes
- Cords
- Plant stands
- Loose floorboards or tiles
Of course, with a few simple modifications, you can prevent these household items from becoming hazards. Take some time to look around your home and identify potential hazards. It is also recommended to use a non-slip mat in your shower, as this is where falls and slips are rather common as well.
Have Sensible Shoes Handy
If you have tile or wood flooring throughout your home, now might be the time to consider changing your footwear. Swapping out your shoes can help with fall prevention. Some footwear to avoid include high heels, slippers, and shoes with slick soles. It is best to wear properly fitting, sturdy, and flat shoes that have a non-skid sole.
Use Assistive Devices and Tools
There are many assistive devices you can have in your home to help you while walking around your home, including canes or walkers. You can also consider installing handrails on both sides of stairways, grab bars in showers and tubs, and non-slip treads for bare-wood steps, just to name a few! You can speak to your doctor to discuss other strategies to make your home safe.
Get At-Home Care to Protect Your Loved Ones!
There are many ways you can make your home a safer place, one of them is receiving professional at-home care! Here at Santa Teresa Provider Assisted Services, we offer the personal care you need. Contact us today to learn more about how our services can help you.