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A Safe Home Environment to Prevent Falls

26 December 2023

Most of the older adult falls happen at home due to a combination of factors such as physical problems, medications and obstacles at home.

It is recommended to consult with the family doctor, or with geriatrics specialists, or with occupational therapists regarding the suitability of the home.

Recommendations:

Bathroom: Shower using a shower stall, use liquid soap, wipe before exiting the shower. You should also have a non-slip rug.

The living room and bedrooms: Clear the floor of objects, flower pots, rugs (carpets should be glued to the floor) and anything that could be tripped over. Fasten the electrical wires and cables to the walls. Arrange furniture and move furniture that interferes with moving from room to room. 

The kitchen: Place the utensils that are used every day in an accessible place so that you do not have to bend or climb to reach them.

Lighting: Make sure that there is strong but not blinding lighting in the house, it is advisable to place a night lamp next to the bed and install night lighting in the passages between the bedroom and the bathroom.

Additional recommendations:

  • It is recommended to walk with closed shoes, and not with flip flops or sandals.
  • It is recommended to use a distress button, similar to a watch on the wrist.

Most of the older adult falls happen at home, usually because of, for example, visual impairment, home hazards, joint pain, medicines that cause weakness, and more.

These recommendations will help improve home safety and reduce the risk of falls. 

Consult your primary care physician regarding how to adjust your home. 

Adjusting the bathroom and toilet

  • Bathing in the shower is safer than in the bathtub.
  • Using body wash is safer than using a soap bar, which can slip and cause a fall.
  • Dry yourself off before exiting the shower or the bathtub.
  • Avoid locking the bathroom or toilet door from the inside, to allow for help if needed. It is also better that the door opens outwards.
  • To prevent slipping – wipe up wet floors immediately.

Safety accessories for the bathroom

  • A mat or anti-slip strips on the bathtub or shower floor.
  • Install non-slip flooring in the entire bathroom.
  • Shower, bathtub, and toilet grab bars.
  • Consult an occupational therapist or a physical therapist regarding correct and safe positioning of the grab bars.
  • Place a stable plastic chair inside the shower or bathtub.
  • If necessary – a stable booster seat for the toilet.

Adjusting the living room and bedrooms

  • To avoid tripping, the floor must be cleared of objects, electrical wires, etc.
  • Electrical wires and cables must be attached to the walls (with the help of an electrician if necessary).
  • Be sure to use stable furniture and make sure they do not obstruct any corridors or narrow passages, especially on the way from the bedroom to the bathroom.
  • The phone should be in an accessible and convenient place. Place essential phone numbers next to it in large and clear writing.
  • Remove carpets or fix them to the floor using a double-sided adhesive or special surfaces to prevent carpets from shifting and sliding.
  • Be sure to close drawers and closet doors.

Kitchen adjustments

  • Place utensils you use every day within reach so you will not have to bend down or climb up to reach them.
  • Avoid climbing as much as possible, especially chairs. If there is no other option, use a stool with a rail.
  • To prevent slipping, wipe wet floor or spilled food immediately.

Lighting

  • Use lighting that is bright enough, but not blinding.
  • Place a bedside lamp within reach.
  • Make sure there is night lighting in the halls and bathrooms, especially on the way from the bedroom to the bathroom.

Stairs and levels (indoors and outdoors)

  • Clear stairs of any objects.
  • Fix loose, broken or uneven stairs.
  • Make sure the carpets are securely fixed to the stairs or remove them.
  • Fix loose or broken handrail or install new ones. Make sure there is a handrail on both sides along the whole staircase.
  • Install suitable lighting in the stairwell and replace burnt out light bulbs.

More Tips

  • Wear closed shoes, do not wear flip flops or sandals.
  • Get a distress button on wrist watch, for example.