July 5th is National Injury Prevention Day. The goal of this day is to raise awareness of predictable and preventable injuries, such as falls. Every year, between 20 and 30 percent of seniors have at least one fall. Since falls are the leading cause of injury for Canadian seniors, this is a major concern. This National Injury Prevention Day, learn how to protect your elderly loved ones from slips and falls. Here are some tips for keeping your loved ones safe from falls around the home.
Install Grab Bars in the Bathroom
Bathrooms can be a dangerous area of the home. The tub or shower is slippery, and people can easily fall when they’re getting in or out. The tile floors of the bathroom are also hazardous when wet.
To ensure safety in the bathroom, invest in installing non-slip mats in and outside of the tub or shower, as well as grab bars. Grab bars can be easily installed to give your loved ones something to grip as they get in and out. Grab bars can also be installed beside the toilet.
Install Handrails
Your loved ones probably already have handrails on their stairs. If they don’t, have handrails installed on both sides of the stairs. Stairs can be a very dangerous part of the home, so this is important. If your loved ones can’t safely go up and down the stairs, even with the help of handrails, consider installing a stair lift.
While stairs are dangerous, they’re not the only area where seniors can fall. Falls can also happen in the hallways. If your loved one has to rush through their hallways to go to the bathroom or answer the telephone, they could slip and injure themselves. Install handrails in the hallways to help prevent these falls. Handrails give them something to grab onto to steady themselves as they walk around their home.
Clean Up Clutter
Clutter is not only an eyesore, but it’s also a tripping hazard. When your loved ones are walking through their home, they could trip on objects they’ve left on the floor. Boxes, piles of laundry, or other objects can be tripping hazards. Loose cords or wires are also a hazard to keep an eye out for.
If your loved ones are having trouble keeping their home clutter-free, they may benefit from a senior home care service. A caregiver will come to their home regularly to do light housekeeping. When the home is tidy, your loved ones will be less likely to trip and fall. If you think your loved ones would benefit from this service, learn how to have a conversation about senior home care.
Improve Household Lighting
Poor lighting can especially lead to trips and falls. When you can’t clearly see where you’re going, you can trip on obstacles like clutter or furniture. Falls can also happen on the stairs in poor lighting. To stay safe, your loved ones need adequate lighting in their home.
As people age, household tasks like changing lightbulbs can become more difficult. They may not feel comfortable climbing ladders anymore, or may have hand conditions that make gripping the bulbs hard. Replace any burnt out lightbulbs or adding additional light sources in your loved ones’ home to keep them safe.
Keep Front Steps Clear
While there’s no snow or ice on your loved ones’ front steps now, there will be in the winter months. Snow and ice are very dangerous and can lead to slips or falls. National Injury Prevention Day is a good time to plan ahead and think about how you’ll keep the steps clean in the winter.
Your loved ones may not be able to shovel and salt their own steps. If you aren’t able to help, make arrangements for outdoor maintenance now. When winter arrives, your loved ones will know they have safe, ice-free steps.
