Fall Prevention at Home

Fall Prevention at Home – Instructions

Falls can cause injuries. They can happen to people of all ages. There are many things you can do to make your home safe and to help prevent falls. Ask for help when making these changes, if needed.

What actions can I take to prevent falls?

General Instructions

• Use good lighting in all rooms. Replace any light bulbs that burn out.
• Turn on the lights when you go into a dark area. Use night-lights.
• Keep items that you use often in easy-to-reach places. Lower the shelves around your home if necessary.
• Set up your furniture so you have a clear path. Avoid moving your furniture around.
• Do nothave throw rugs and other things on the floor that can make you trip.
• Avoid walking on wet floors.
• If any of your floors are uneven, fix them.
• Add color or contrast paint or tape to clearly mark and help you see:
  • Any grab bars or handrails.
  • First and last steps of stairways.
  • Where the edge of each step is.
• If you use a stepladder:
  • Make sure that it is fully opened. Do notclimb a closed stepladder.
  • Make sure that both sides of the stepladder are locked into place.
  • Ask someone to hold the stepladder for you while you use it.
• If there are any pets around you, be aware of where they are.

What can I do in the bathroom?

• Keep the floor dry. Clean up any water that spills onto the floor as soon as it happens.
• Remove soap buildup in the tub or shower regularly.
• Use non-skid mats or decals on the floor of the tub or shower.
• Attach bath mats securely with double-sided, non-slip rug tape.
• If you need to sit down in the shower, use a plastic, non-slip stool.

Install grab bars by the toilet and in the tub and shower. Do notuse towel bars as grab bars.

What can I do in the bedroom?

• Make sure that you have a light by your bed that is easy to reach.
• Do notuse any sheets or blankets that are too big for your bed. They should not hang down onto the floor.
• Have a firm chair that has side arms. You can use this for support while you get dressed.

What can I do in the kitchen?

• Clean up any spills right away.
• If you need to reach something above you, use a strong step stool that has a grab bar.
• Keep electrical cords out of the way.
• Do notuse floor polish or wax that makes floors slippery. If you must use wax, use non-skid floor wax.

What can I do with my stairs?

• Do notleave any items on the stairs.
• Make sure that you have a light switch at the top of the stairs and the bottom of the stairs. If you do not have them, ask someone to add them for you.
• Make sure that there are handrails on both sides of the stairs, and use them. Fix handrails that are broken or loose. Make sure that handrails are as long as the stairways.
• Install non-slip stair treads on all stairs in your home.
• Avoid having throw rugs at the top or bottom of the stairs. If you do have throw rugs, attach them to the floor with carpet tape.
• Choose a carpet that does not hide the edge of the steps on the stairway.
• Check any carpeting to make sure that it is firmly attached to the stairs. Fix any carpet that is loose or worn.

What can I do on the outside of my home?

• Use bright outdoor lighting.
• Regularly fix the edges of walkways and driveways and fix any cracks.
• Remove anything that might make you trip as you walk through a door, such as a raised step or threshold.
• Trim any bushes or trees on the path to your home.
• Regularly check to see if handrails are loose or broken. Make sure that both sides of any steps have handrails.
• Install guardrails along the edges of any raised decks and porches.
• Clear walking paths of anything that might make someone trip, such as tools or rocks.
• Have any leaves, snow, or ice cleared regularly.
• Use sand or salt on walking paths during winter.
• Clean up any spills in your garage right away. This includes grease or oil spills.

What other actions can I take?

• Wear shoes that:
  • Have a low heel. Do notwear high heels.
  • Have rubber bottoms.
  • Are comfortable and fit you well.
  • Are closed at the toe. Do notwear open-toe sandals.
• Use tools that help you move around (mobility aids) if they are needed. These include:
  • Canes.
  • Walkers.
  • Scooters.
  • Crutches.
• Review your medicines with your doctor. Some medicines can make you feel dizzy. This can increase your chance of falling.

Ask your doctor what other things you can do to help prevent falls.

Where to find more information

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, STEADI: https://cdc.gov  
• National Institute on Aging: https://go4life.nia.nih.gov  

Contact a doctor if:

• You are afraid of falling at home.
• You feel weak, drowsy, or dizzy at home.
• You fall at home.

Summary

• There are many simple things that you can do to make your home safe and to help prevent falls.
• Ways to make your home safe include removing tripping hazards and installing grab bars in the bathroom.
• Ask for help when making these changes in your home.