Fall Prevention at Home: 7 Practical Steps for Older Adults and Families

A home can feel completely familiar and still have a few spots that are harder to navigate than they used to be. Falls Prevention Awareness Month is a good reminder to walk through the home with fresh eyes and notice what might make everyday routines easier.

The CDC identifies falls as an important concern for adults age 65 and older. Some of the most useful changes at home are also very practical: clearer walkways, easier-to-reach lighting, and everyday items placed where they are easier to use.

1. Start with the paths they use every day

Think about the routes your loved one takes most often: the bedroom to the bathroom, a favorite chair to the kitchen, or the front door to the car. Loose cords, clutter, unstable rugs, and small pieces of furniture can make a familiar path harder to move through.

2. Make lighting easy to reach

Hallways, stairs, entryways, and nighttime trips to the bathroom deserve a little extra attention. Lamps, switches, and night-lights are most useful when they can be reached before someone has to cross a dark space.

3. Take another look at bathrooms and stairs

Bathrooms and stairs can be some of the trickier parts of a home. If you are considering grab bars, railings, or other home modifications, a qualified professional can help you decide what is appropriate for the person and the space.

4. Put everyday items within easier reach

Dishes, clothing, toiletries, and other things used every day are easier to manage when they do not require unnecessary climbing or stretching. Sometimes moving one shelf or one basket can make a routine simpler.

5. Keep medical questions with the healthcare team

Vision, medications, balance, strength, and health conditions can all affect fall risk. Questions about those areas should go to the doctor, pharmacist, therapist, or other licensed healthcare professional who knows your loved one’s situation.

6. Give the routine enough time

Getting dressed, moving through the house, or sitting down for a meal can feel very different when no one is rushing. A Care Plan can spell out where non-medical assistance fits into those everyday routines.

7. Take another look when routines change

A setup that worked a few months ago may not work the same way after a hospital stay, a change in mobility, or a new assistive device. When the routine changes, it can be worth looking at the home again too.

Where Heavenly Helpers fits

Heavenly Helpers provides non-medical home care. Depending on the Care Plan, that can include personal-care assistance, companionship, meal and snack preparation, light housekeeping, respite care, and assistance with everyday routines.

Medical questions, new symptoms, medication concerns, or a fall itself should be discussed with the appropriate healthcare professional.