Preventing Falls in the Home | Fall Prevention

Here at Copper Star Home Medical, we’re observing Fall Prevention Month by focusing on ways to reduce the risk of falling in your bedroom or bathroom.

Each year, over 36 million older adults experience at least one fall, and one in five falls causes serious injury or death. While these statistics are grim, the good news is that you can do some simple, affordable things to cut your fall risks in your home.

Reducing the Risk of Falls in the Bathroom

The bathroom is often the smallest and most dangerous room in your home. Factors such as poor lighting, slick hard surfaces, and a lack of safety equipment all increase the risk of falling while using the bathroom. Add to that any mobility issues that you might have, such as difficulty getting in and out of the tub or standing up from the toilet, and it’s easy to see why bathroom safety devices are so important.

Here are some of the things you can do to make your bathroom safer:

• Activate the bathroom fan when bathing or showering to reduce moisture build-up on the floor
• Install one or more grab bars next to the shower stall or tub, and place multiple grab bars inside the bathtub enclosure
• Use a shower seat instead of standing to shower
• Make getting on and off the toilet easier with an elevated toilet seat or a powered incline lift toilet seat

You’ll also want to ensure that your bathroom has plenty of light and that the floor is covered with non-slip material. Don’t bathe or shower while you’re home alone, and ask for assistance if you’re uneasy about falling in the bathroom.

Reducing Fall Risks in the Bedroom

The bedroom can also be filled with fall hazards, especially if you experience dizziness when rising from a seated or prone position.

Here’s how you can reduce the risk of falling in your bedroom:

• Remove any throw rugs, as these are easy to trip on
• Replace high-pile carpeting with low-pile carpets or slip-resistant flooring
• Add under-bed motion-activated lights so you can see the floor when getting in and out of bed
• Use bed rails or a SuperPole to make transferring and rolling over in bed easier
• Consider replacing your existing bed with a new state-of-the-art hospital bed

Be sure to keep your bedroom tidy and free of clutter that you could trip on. If you’re a pet owner, always check to see where your animals are before getting out of bed, as it’s common for people to trip and fall over their pets.

You should always keep a phone handy at your bedside or invest in a wearable medical alert device.

For more tips on preventing falls in your home, contact us here! We rent and sell various quality mobility devices and safety equipment, including ramps, walkers, hospital beds, and more.