Have you ever had a fall at home? Are you afraid that an elderly loved one might break their hip in a fall? Thousands of people experience this unpleasant reality daily and find themselves robbed of their independence. Injuries caused by falls at home are often painful and leave those affected with fear of falling again, limiting their recovery. The good news is that most falls in the home can be prevented. Here are some tips you can follow to make your home or the home of a loved one more secure.

In the bathroom:
1) Install grab bars on the walls next to the toilet and inside the tub/shower. Nowadays, you don’t need to get the kind of bars that have to be permanently installed with screws, there are ones available that have large suction cups on both ends that stick very well to the wall and are removable.
You may also want to have floor to ceiling vertical bars (safety poles) available to provide additional support where it is needed. These posts are easy to remove or relocate if necessary.
2) Use rubber mats with suction cups on the bottom both on the floor inside the bathtub or shower, and for when you get out of the water. Traction in these slippery areas is essential.
3) A combination car seat/transfer bench used inside the tub or shower provides stability and comfort while bathing and allows you to get in and out safely.
4) A handheld shower head with a flexible hose makes bathing easier, as well as controlling the spray and keeping the water inside the tub or shower.
5) A raised toilet seat or a special toilet seat with armrests allows the user to get better leverage to stand up and sit down, and helps with balance.

In your room:
1) When you’re in bed, make sure you can reach a light switch, whether it’s for a nightlight or ceiling light.
2) Install remote controlled switches with other lamps in the room (available at a radio/electronics store).
3) Always have a flashlight handy.
4) Keep a mobility aid (cane, walker) close and accessible near the bed.
5) If you need to get up often at night, it can be handy to have a bedside dresser in your room.

In the kitchen:
1) If your kitchen has concrete, ceramic tile or other hard surface floors, place rugs over them to lessen the severity of injuries in the event of a fall.
2) Wear shoes with good traction on the soles. Avoid going barefoot or wearing socks.
3) Clean up spills on the floor immediately.
4) Keep all items used every day within easy reach.
5) If something falls or falls on the ground, be very careful when picking it up. You can easily lose your balance when bending down to pick something up. It’s a good idea to use “reaching” devices in every room.

General tips:
1) Install brighter lighting everywhere, especially above the stairs, in the kitchen, and in the bathroom. Make sure there are light switches at both ends of stairs and hallways. Use night lights in the hallways and in your bedroom and bathroom.
2) Install handrails on both sides of the stair, extending the full length of the stair.
3) Remove loose rugs that may cause you to trip; keep lighting, computer, and other technology cables safely near walls.
4) Get rid of lots of “stuff” you think you’ll want to read in the future, but never do: old newspapers, magazines, old junk mail. These are fire hazards and trip hazards when left on the ground.
5) Move unnecessary furniture and other obstacles out of your way, so that there are clear and wide paths in the house.