A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults

1. Health Care At Home India Every year one of every three senior citizens over 65 years fall and therefore, it is found that falls are the leading cause of injury death for seniors of 65 and above. Simply shifting homes will not help lessen falls. However, certain risk factor in the home environment may add to about half of all home falls. Some of them get wounded and rest of them may even get disabled. Usually it is found that falls are often due to various hazards that look quite easy to get overlooked but, simple to get fixed. The checklist mentioned below will help you fix problem early and offer proper elderly care. FLOORS: Do you have to walk around furniture when you walk around the room? -Ask someone to move the furniture and clear the path when you walk through the room. Do you have to throw rugs on the floor? -Try and remove rugs or make use of double-sided tape so that you don’t slip. Are there any other objects on the floor such as paper, towels, books, boxes or magazines? -Try to pick up things that are present on the floor and keep objects off the floor. Do you have to walk over or around wires or extension wires? -Fix wires, tape cords or coil next to wall so that you don’t trip over them. STAIRS and STEPS: Do you have any objects such as papers, boxes, pots on the stairs?

2. Try to pick up objects from the stairs and keep them somewhere else. Are there steps that are broken or uneven? -If there are steps that are uneven try to fix them or repair them. Is there a light missing over the stairway? -Get in touch with an electrician and put an overhead light at the top as well as at the bottom of the stairs. Do you have one light switch at the top or at the bottom of the stairs? -Call an electrician and get a light switch at the top as well as at the bottom of the stairway. Has the stairway light been burned out? -Get in touch with a family member or friend and change the light. Do you find the carpet on the stairway torn? -Ensure that the carpets are attached at each step and try to give non-slip rubber treads to the stairs. Are the handrails loose or broken? -Try to fix the handrails or put new ones. Ensure that there are hand rails on both side of the stairs. KITCHEN: Are the things you usually use stored on high shelves? -Try and shift all your items in your respective cabinets. Try to keep things that you use on regular basis on the lower shelves.

3. Is your step stool shaky? -Try and avoid using chair as a step stool. If you are using step stool, get one with a bar to hold on to so that you don’t trip over them. BATHROOMS: Is your shower floor slippery? -Try and put a non-slippery or self-sticks on the floor of the shower or the tub. Do you require any kind of support when you get up from the toilet seat? -Get in touch with a carpenter and grab bars next to the toilet. BEDROOMS: Is the pathway from bedroom to bathroom dark? -Try to fix a night bulb so that you can see while you are walking at night. Is the light far away from bed? -Try to fix a light closer to your bed so that it’s easier for you to reach. Other important points you can follow to prevent fall Try to exercise on a regular basis. Discuss with your pharmacist, physiotherapist and doctor on your medicine consumption and or physiotherapy care required. A physiotherapy clinic can also provide you with these. Have your vision checked once every year Try to get up slowly after long hours of sleeping or sitting Avoid wearing slippers inside the house instead opt for shoes right physiotherapy treatment

4. Enhance the lighting in your home Have uniformity in terms of lighting in your room Other safety guidelines Keep your emergency numbers near your telephone You can also have a bell with you that will help you in case you tumble down and unable to get up So, follow these prevention checklists for safety of older adults from falling down.