Age UK reports that every year in the UK, 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 suffer a fall. Falling over can be particularly harmful, and even fatal in later life, which is why it’s so important to take steps that will prevent falls from happening at all.
Here are our 5 top tips to help stop falls from happening around the home.
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1. Keep the area tidy and well-lit
Understandably, one of the most common causes of falls is tripping up. This can happen all too often in the home if there’s clutter left on the floor.
Any items that are left on the ground are tripping hazards, so it’s important to keep the house neat and tidy to avoid falls. It’s also worth keeping an eye out for trailing wires and such, which can be difficult to spot and easy to trip over if you’re looking ahead.
We also suggest that the house is kept well-lit so that there is good visibility throughout the home.
2. Wear shoes that fit
Wearing the right footwear can make a drastic difference to safety around the home. In fact, simply wearing shoes in the first place can improve movement throughout the house!
However, we suggest that wearing a pair of shoes that have a good fastening, sturdy support, and a stable sole is the best bet for avoiding falls.
3. Use equipment designed to prevent falls
If someone is struggling to move around their home and perhaps needs some extra support and peace of mind, then there’s no harm in getting a walking stick or a walking frame. These things can help to give just a little bit of stability when the user is on their feet, helping them to avoid trips and falls.
Wheeled walkers might be the best option for individuals who aren’t particularly confident on their feet, but want to move around their home with ease.
4. Use non-slip mats in bathrooms
As you can imagine, the bathroom can be a particularly dangerous place for those who are less steady on their feet. Wet surfaces make this room a real problem, so it’s important to take the right precautions to prevent falls from occurring.
If extra support is needed, then we suggest that grab rails be installed around the bathroom to give more stability to the individual when moving around. This will help to prevent falls from occurring, and give the person peace of mind that they can move around their bathroom with ease.
5. Think about getting a stairlift
Falling on the staircase can be particularly dangerous for anyone at any age. Fortunately, there is an easy alternative to moving into a bungalow — installing a stairlift.
Stairlifts are a simple, safe way to get up and down the stairs with virtually no risk of falling. They can be installed on straight or curved staircases, and they can be fitted in almost any home!
Stairlifts remove the risk of falls, making moving around the home a lot easier and safer.
These are a few simple ways that safety around the home can be improved to reduce the chance of falling over. Whether it’s by taking a few precautions like tidying up the floor and having good lighting, or by installing a more permanent solution like a stairlift, there are ways of making sure that falls are avoided.
Graeme has worked alongside the public sector for much of his working life, helping departments improve efficiencies and deliver on projects. In his role at Vivid.Care, Graeme used his experience to tackle some of the most challenging issues in the healthcare sector, from falls through to winter pressures. He was also a guest speaker and a number of different conferences, including at the Falls Prevention Summit in London.
