Fall Prevention Strategies to Improve Home Safety

Falls are the leading cause of injury for individuals 65 years and older. These falls often lead to complications such as broken bones, head injuries, permanent disabilities, or even death in some cases. With simple adjustments to the home environment, we can significantly reduce the risk of falls and help promote safety in the home. This will help people continue to live independently and live for longer. Occupational therapists (OTs) play a crucial role in fall prevention by addressing the physical, environmental, and cognitive factors that contribute to the risk of falls.

This blog post will discuss fall prevention strategies to improve home safety.

What is Fall Prevention?

Fall prevention are the actions taken to help reduce a person’s risk of falling. This can include creating a safer living space, improving your own balance, and addressing underlying health concerns as they arise. A fall prevention plan can include identifying potential hazards, conducting medical assessments, implementing environmental modifications such as equipment recommendations, as well as muscle strengthening to improve balance and mobility.

Why is Fall Prevention Important?

Fall prevention strategies are crucial, since the effects of falling can be devastating. Without trying to prevent falling, this can lead to injury or death. 

• Physical Injury: Falls can result in breaks, sprains, bruising, and head injuries. These injuries can take months to heal, and some may even require surgery. Furthermore, some injuries may be permanent and irreversible, resulting in mobility loss, cognitive issues, or at the extreme level, death. 

• Loss of independence: Falling can affect mobility, leading to difficulty performing daily tasks. This can lead to greater dependence on caregivers.

• Psychological impact: After falling, individuals may have an extreme fear of falling again. This can lead to limitations in movement, activity, social interactions, which all decreases quality of life.

Strategies to Improve Home Safety: 

Creating an environment that is safe is a great way to prevent falling. Occupational Therapists conduct comprehensive assessments to evaluate a person's risk factors for falling, including mobility, strength, balance, and cognitive function. They may also look at environmental hazards, such as clutter or poor lighting, that could contribute to falls.

Some strategies to reduce the likelihood of falls and promote home safety include:

• Removing tripping hazards: Make sure that electrical cords are against the walls and away from walking paths. Also ensure rugs are cleared from walking paths and secure them to the floor using tape. This will help make it so the rug does not slide or trip you. Finally, keeping clothing, shoes, and other furniture off the floor ensures there is nothing to trip on. 

• Installing grab bars and railings: Installing grab bars and railings helps ensure you do not fall. Grab bars should be installed in showers and bathrooms, so you have external support to prevent slips and falls while being in the shower. This gives extra support and stability. There should also be double railings on the stairs, so you can hold both sides as you go up and down. This gives you something to hold on to, preventing falls. Finally, if there are steps to get into your house, there should be a railing. 

• Using non-slip equipment: Having non-slip equipment helps prevent falling. Ensure you put non-slip stripes in the shower, where it can get soapy and slippery. Also, buying grippy socks or wearing proper footwear can ensure that you have extra support.

• Improving lighting in the house: Making sure every room has ample lighting is important for navigating the house. Having automatic sensor lights also can help if you need to get something at night or go to the bathroom. 

• Teaching Safe Movement Techniques: Occupational Therapists can teach clients how to move safely, such as how to get out of bed or a chair properly, how to bend or lift objects safely, and how to maintain a stable posture when walking.

• Keeping active: Doing physical activity can help build muscles and strength. Also, doing yoga can help improve balance. By improving balance and strength, this helps improve your movement and make you less at risk for falling. Consult an Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapist to create personalized exercise programs to improve strength, balance, and coordination.

Conclusion:

Occupational Therapists focus on creating individualized plans that target a person’s unique fall risks, helping to maintain their independence and safety.  By implementing strategies to increase safety in the home, you significantly reduce the risk of falling. Simple modifications, such as non-slip equipment, railings, and exercise can go a long way in promoting safety and preventing falls.