Wet leaves on the front walk in Aldershot, slush tracked into the hallway, dark mornings by the lake. Our late-fall weather adds a few new risks to an ordinary house. November is Fall Prevention Month in Canada. To ensure proper senior fall prevention, consider making these eight changes to your home before the heavy snow arrives. Most of these changes are inexpensive and can help make your home steadier. Let Senior Helpers Burlington help you spot the hazards.
1. Add a Second Handrail to the Outside Steps
Outdoor steps with rails on both sides let you hold on with your stronger hand as you go up and down, which matters on a frosty morning when you're carrying the recycling bin to the curb.
2. Keep a Boot Tray and a Sturdy Bench Just Inside the Door
Sitting down to put boots on and take them off is much safer than balancing on one foot. Additionally, the tray helps keep meltwater off the floor.
3. Arrange Snow Clearing Before the First Storm
If shovelling is getting hard, line up a neighbour, a relative, or a paid service in October so the walk is cleared before you need to go out. Keep a pail of grit near the door for icy patches.
4. Clear the Floors in Every Room You Use Daily
Ensure your floors are rug-free, remove cords running across walkways, and clear stacks of newspapers. Bare floors are easier to walk on, with or without a cane, and are essential for senior fall prevention. Check the spot by the back door too, where grocery bags and shoes tend to pile up after a trip to the store.
5. Brighten the Stairs and Hallways
Put brighter bulbs at the top and bottom of every staircase. Plug-in night lights along the route from the bedroom to the bathroom help on dark winter nights. Those half-awake trips are risky. Your eyes haven't adjusted, and you tend to hurry when the bathroom is only a few steps away.
6. Move Everyday Items Within Easy Reach
Shift dishes, the kettle, and favourite mugs to lower shelves where they are reachable without assistance. Anything that requires you to climb should be moved lower.
7. Install Grab Bars by the Toilet and in the Shower
Towel bars won't hold you, so a non-slip mat in the tub and a shower chair provide additional support. Using a handheld shower head allows for rinsing while seated, and a bathroom night-light prevents fumbling for the switch at night.
8. Keep Moving Through the Cold Months
Gentle exercises for strength and balance, such as age-friendly fitness classes, help maintain leg strength during indoor months. Consult your doctor about suitable activities, and have your vision and medications reviewed annually for better balance and senior fall prevention.
Parachute, Canada's national injury prevention charity, offers more ways older adults can reduce the risk of falls. Government of Canada's aging and seniors page provides valuable resources on healthy aging and home safety worth bookmarking.
Senior Fall Prevention Assistance Across Burlington
A second set of eyes catches the hazards you stopped noticing years ago. Senior Helpers Burlington caregivers can help spot tripping risks, run errands on slippery days, offer a steady arm on walks, and give reminders for daily routines. Our caregivers visit homes across Burlington, Alton Village, Aldershot, Roseland, and North Burlington. Ideally, we'd meet you before the first big storm. Contact us to book a visit.