“Every year, thousands of older adults fall and hurt themselves,” reports HealthLinkBC, “Falls are one of the main causes of injury and disability in people age 65 and older. Those who fall once are 2 to 3 times more likely to fall again. Hip fractures are especially serious, and most of them are caused by falling.”
Needless to say, taking action in order to prevent falls in your home is imperative. This is especially true if you live with older adults. What can be done to prevent falls in your home?
Learn ways to keep your balance.
Exercising is a great way to improve your balance. By gaining strength, you’ll be able to hold on to hand railings, grab bars, counters and even the wall to help keep you upright. MyHealth.Alberta.ca encourages you to practice certain exercise routines every day in order to help you stay active and independent.
“Wear low-heeled shoes that fit well and give your feet good support,” the site also suggests, “Use footwear with non-skid soles. Repair or replace worn heels and soles. If you use a walker or cane, make sure it is fitted to you. If you use a cane, replace the rubber tip when it becomes worn.”
Clear your rooms of tripping hazards.
It’s important to have clear floors in your home. Tuck wires away, push furniture closer to the walls and pick up objects from the floor. That last tip is especially important for your stairwell. For some reason, many people leave items on the steps. Naturally, such obstacles can trip people using their stairs. For elderly individuals with vision impairments, a debris-filled staircase is an extremely dangerous location.
“Remove throw rugs on floors,” advises HealthLinkBC, “Or use double-sided tape or a special backing so the rugs won’t slip. Pick up papers, books, shoes, boxes or other things that are on the floor. Always keep objects off the floor. Coil or tape wires (such as extension cords or lamp or phone cords) next to the wall so you can’t trip over them. If you need another power outlet, have an electrician install one.”
Take extra care if you live alone.
People who live alone face an additional element of danger. By not having anyone around for assistance, they stand greater chances of slipping and falling. We would encourage all single dwellers to keep in constant contact with friends and family. It’s always important to have a loved one know where you are and how you’re doing. If you’re battling with mobility issues, it’s wise to have a constant visitor who can help you out with important tasks.
“If you live alone, think about wearing an alert device that will bring help in case you fall and can’t get up,” suggests MyHealth.Alberta.ca, “Or carry a cordless or cell phone with you from room to room. Then you can quickly call for help if you need it.”
Install a stair lift.
The LifeCare Mobility Solutions team can’t think of a more effective way to prevent falls in your home than installing a stair lift. This amazing solution ensures that no one with a mobility issue ever faces danger on the stairs again. We proudly carry both Handicare stair lifts and Bruno stair lifts for both straight and curved staircases.
If you have any questions about the stair lifts offered by LifeCare Mobility Solutions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 416-267-9800 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
