Falls are a significant concern for seniors, often leading to serious injuries and a decline in quality of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four Americans aged 65 and older falls each year. However, many falls can be prevented with proper precautions and awareness. This guide offers practical tips to help seniors and their caregivers create a safer living environment and reduce the risk of falls.

1) Create clear pathways.

If you are like many seniors, especially those receiving hospice or home health care, you might not tend to walk very far in the course of a day. Most likely, you are moving to and from the bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchen. Make sure there are no obstructions on these paths, and also make sure there are no loose rugs, clothes, towels, or other objects, either. Also, make sure the pathways are wide enough. Especially if you are using a walker, you don’t want to have to worry about trying to shuffle through a narrow passageway or navigate around furniture or other things.

2) Check the bathroom for safety.

One of the most common places for seniors to fall is in the bathroom. Wet floors are hazardous, and showers and bathtubs can also be dangerous. Make sure you have some sort of grippy surface in the shower, and also make sure any rugs you have in the bathroom have a rubberized backing so they don’t slide around. Also, consider adding grab bars and bathing seats in tubs and showers.

3) Be careful with socks and slippers.

Especially if you have wood, tile, or other smooth floors, be careful wearing socks or slippers. Consider purchasing a pair of house shoes, or, if you really like wearing socks or slippers, find pairs that have grip on the sole.

4) Keep a cane or walker handy.

Maybe, because of medication or health conditions, you only struggle with balance on certain days or at certain times. Keep a cane, walker, or other walking aids within reach in case these times sneak up on you unexpectedly. Also, if you are using a walker or wheelchair, be sure that you can keep it close to your bed or chair in a position that won’t cause you to fall as you are reaching for it.

5) Ask for help.

As tempting as it is to try to stand on a chair to reach something on a tall shelf or change a light bulb, it just isn’t worth the risk. Coastal Home Health and Hospice has volunteers for our hospice patients that can help with simple tasks like this, so if you need help, please call and ask us!