Simple Home Modifications to Help Prevent Senior Falls

When you have a senior loved one at home or who visits often and is looking forward to some home modifications, don't forget to consider their safety. Seniors are quite prone to falls, slips, and trips. Such sudden slips and trips can cause head trauma, brain injuries, and hip and bone fractures. According to experts at Senior Home Care, these accidents can be prevented by choosing senior-friendly home modifications by making your home fall-proof to aid in preventing senior falls.

1. Get Rid of Trip Risks

One of the primary contributors to falls among older people is the presence of trip hazards. Remove any rugs or carpeting that isn't securely fastened, and ensures that all electrical cords are tucked away and out of the way. In addition, make sure that the furniture is organized so that it does not make it difficult to move around the house.

2. Sufficient Lighting

Simply adding light have a great impact on significantly preventing senior falls. Make sure to have sufficient lighting in each room, or replace lights and bulbs with those of higher power, at the entrances of rooms, in hallways, and near outdoor walkways. Proper lighting is also essential on stairways. Ensure the lighting is always within your senior loved one's reach, and consider placing light switches at the top and bottom of stairs so your loved one can easily switch it on when going up or coming down.

3. Handrails and Grab Bars

Stairs can be one of the most significant factors contributing to senior falls. Make sure to install appropriate handrails. Handrails on both sides of the staircase and walkways can help your elderly loved one from falling and hurting themselves. Place grab bars when modifying your bathroom in the bathtub, shower and next to the toilet. These adjustments can certainly prevent anyone from slipping in the bathroom. Make sure the bars are secured to the wall after installation.

4. Strips that prevent slipping

 Installing non-slip strips or placing a rubber mat on the bathroom floor, bathtub, or shower can be one of the most effective ways to protect seniors from falling. This method is also one of the simplest. Before a family member enters your restroom, check that the mats and strips are firmly fastened to the floor or other surfaces.

5. Get rid of clutter and clean up

The most important stages in elder fall prevention are cleaning up the mess and decluttering your home. Spills, wires, and clutter on the floor are all potential hazards that could cause your loved one to slip, trip, or fall. Items like a dog dish, shoes, toys, and footstools could fall into this category. A poorly secured rug is mostly to blame for this predicament. If you want soft floors, you should install fixed carpet flooring. This will ensure that rugs and carpets are not dislodged when stepped on.

6. Ensure Easy Access to Essential Items

If seniors have to reach for goods that are high up or difficult to get to, they can have a higher risk of falling. Make sure that vital goods such as medication, food, and toiletries are easy to reach, and think about putting pull-out shelves or lazy susans to make it even simpler to get to items that are further away.

7. Consider a Medical Alert System

Both elders and the people who care for them can benefit from the peace of mind that comes with having a medical alert system. These systems give seniors the ability to summon assistance in the case of a fall or any other emergency, and they also have the capability of automatically notifying emergency services in the event that the senior is unable to do so themselves.

These are some of the most essential ways to prevent senior falls from keeping them safe from major injuries. If you need additional help to make your living space safe and secure for your ageing loved one, consider consulting live-in Home Care Happy Valley experts to help your loved one stay healthy both physically and mentally, find enjoyment throughout golden years and age in place with children and cherished memories while taking care of any accidents at home.