Falls - Why Making the Home Safe Matters

One of the big concerns for many individuals is falls. Sometimes accidents happen and are beyond our control, but in many cases fall can be prevented. As we age or develop certain medical conditions our mobility may be affected, but that does not mean we are doomed to fall. I wanted to cover some potential things to consider without our own homes that can help prevent or at least minimize the risk of falls.

In their study, Jiang and associates identify certain elements that may contribute to higher risk of falls which are: 

Inadequate Handrails:

This is really important and was found as one of the main factors for falls. Ensuring your home has proper stable supports is important.

Unsafe Ground

When the ground is uneven, slippery, level changes or even presenting with pattern this can lead more falls. Make sure the floor in clean, uncluttered, and all level changes are marked and easy to identify

Poor Lighting

Some lighting may cast a lot of shadows and identifying any obstructions may be difficult in poor light. This is especially important to consider when needing to move or walk around at night.

Over Reaching

Accessibility is another factor to consider. When an object is too far away we end up overreaching and this may lead to our own loss of balance.

Inappropriate Furniture

Proper furniture goes hand in hand with accessibility. Chairs that are too high or low affect our ability to sit or stand from them safely. Tables that are not stable, or beds that are easily moved can lead to falls as well.

Inadequate Rest Chairs

Having chairs or sitting areas for rest along the home can be helpful. When we get tired we have more difficulty walking and moving around and may higher our risk of tripping or losing balance.

In general, if something feels unsafe for you it most likely probably is and so its always a good idea to consider ways to make it safer. I encourage everyone to look around their home and find ways to make it safer and easier to live in for yourself and your loved ones.

Jiang, Y., Xia, Q., Zhou, P., Jiang, S., Diwan, V., & Xu, B. (2020). Environmental hazards increase the fall risk among residents of long-term care facilities: a prospective study in Shanghai, China. Age And Ageing, 50(3), 875–881. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaa218