Safety at Home: 6 Fall Prevention at Home Tips

We all want the feeling of safety and security in our own home. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that one out of four older people falls each year, many of them occurring in the home. Although falls don’t always lead to injuries or serious issues, those that do make it difficult for a person to get around. And falling once doubles your chances of falling again.

The truth is, that one fall could end up changing the lifestyle you love. But the good news is that there are things you can do to work on building up your fall prevention at home. Keep reading to learn 6 ways you’re able to help prevent future falls and the unfortunate outcomes they bring.

6 Tips on Fall Prevention for Seniors

1. Talk to Your Doctor: First off, talk to your healthcare provider. They’re able to consider any medication side effects and have specific fall prevention strategies that would best suit your needs. Plus, you can ask for an evaluation of your strength, balance, and gait. Knowing this information can help you set a plan for the future. For example, if you suffer from bad balance, you can ask your doctor about exercises that can help.
2. Remove Tripping Hazards: Clearing clutter around the house will help decrease your chances of tripping. This includes moving shoes, boxes, papers and books from stairs and hallways, and properly securing rugs. Along with this, be sure to store your most commonly used items within easy reach.
3. Ensure Adequate Lighting: Make sure both the inside and outside of your home has enough lighting for you to see your path when walking. Install brighter lights throughout your home, especially in narrow hallways and stairwells, and add night-lights to walking paths.
4. Wear Sensible Shoes: For around the house, find a slipper or other comfortable shoe that securely fits on your feet and has a non-slip sole.
5. Use Assistive Devices: To help keep you steady, consider using a cane or walker to help you get around. Installing handrails and grab bars around your home also helps in preventing falls by giving you something stable to hold on to.
6. Incorporate Balance Exercises: Physical activity and fitness routines can go a long way in fall prevention. Gentle exercises such as walking and yoga help reduce the risk of falls by improving balance, coordination, and strength. Many of the Springpoint senior living communities have exercise and physical wellness activities to help you achieve your goals.

At Springpoint, a Healthy Lifestyle is Encouraged

At Springpoint, we offer our award-winning whole-person wellness program, LivWell. Through the LivWell program, we work with you to personalize a wellness plan by guiding you to activities and amenities that can help you reach your goals. For example, if you’d like to do something to prevent future falls, we may encourage you to participate in activities like yoga and our signature Stand Tall Don’t Fall program.

Contact us today to learn more and schedule your personal tour of the community.