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| Lynn Wilson |
by Lynn
Wilson, Founder of The CareGiver Partnership
In
recognition of Falls Prevention Awareness Day Sept. 22, here are five easy and
inexpensive ways to instantly improve safety at home, as well as a link to a
free 25-page fall prevention guide.
As the
National Council on Aging and other senior organizations across the nation
recognize Falls Prevention Awareness Day Sept. 22, safely aging in place is
achievable for many seniors.
Ninety percent of people want to remain in their
own homes, where they’re comfortable and have privacy and dignity. Yet, falls
or fear of falling are the cause of up to 40 percent of nursing home admissions. The bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms in the house and where many
falls occur. It’s not surprising when you consider bathrooms typically have
slippery surfaces and often are used in the middle of the night when lighting
is low.
Here are five
quick and easy ways to prevent falls by instantly making a home safer:
1. Removal of
tripping hazards such as clutter, throw rugs, cords and furniture in pathways.
Furniture and cords should be located around a room’s perimeter. If an area rug
is necessary, it should be attached to the floor with heavy-duty, double-sided
tape.
2. Adding
adequate, even lighting throughout the home to avoid shadows. Lighting should
be sufficiently bright but not cast glare. Glare can be reduced with frosted
bulbs, indirect lighting, lamp shades and partially closed window coverings.
Nightlights in bedrooms, bathrooms, halls and stairways can help prevent falls.
3. Installing
bathroom safety features — such as grab bars, nonskid mats, bath benches and
raised toilet seats — not only helps prevent slips and falls, but also helps a
senior with limited mobility move with less pain and strain.
4. Using
peel-and-stick color-contrasting strips in the home helps to visually define
objects and changes in height. Ideal placement includes stair edges, where
walls meet floors, thresholds and floor transitions, and the edges of tubs and
showers.
5. A personal
health and safety assessment can help reduce risk of falling. An aging-in-place
lifestyle typically includes a healthy diet, plenty of vitamin D through
sunlight and supplements, weight-bearing exercise on a regular basis,
proper-fitting footwear and eyeglasses, limited alcohol use, and being aware of
medication side effects.
Learn more
about how companies like Stander are helping seniors remain independent and to
access hundreds of free articles, resources and a fall prevention guide.
About The
CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their
loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information
about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of
Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web
site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most
important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to
prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for
incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The
CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wis. Visit
http://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353. Help
support this ad-free blog by answering several questions about caregiving here.
It will take just two minutes.
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