Stay Safe at Home: Preventing Falls and Accidents with Home Safety Tips and Modifications.
Home is where we feel most comfortable and secure, a place where many of us envisage growing old. A sanctuary, where memories are kept, and our possessions held dear. However, as we age it can also present hidden dangers, especially when it comes to falls and accidents. Falls prevention is not just about getting regular exercise and looking after your body as we age, it is also about ensuring that the spaces we inhabit are safe for us to dwell in for as long as possible.
Whether you are a caregiver, an older adult or someone who is looking to future proof their living space, there are many practical steps you can take to minimize risks and ensure a safer home. Let us look at some effective home safety tips and modifications we can make, that will steer us away from any unnecessary accidents.
Understanding the risks
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury in the home, particularly for older adults. Falls at home are often due to the following circumstances:
- Cluttered walkways and living spaces
- Poor lighting
- Lack of support in bathrooms
- Loose rugs or carpets
- Reaching for items in kitchens, where cupboards are too high or too low
- Weakness or balance issues
If we identify potential hazards in our living spaces, we can take positive measures to reduce these risks.
Home safety tips and ideas
1. Declutter and organize
Keep walkways and living areas free of clutter. It is helpful to find a designated space for shoes, bags, and other items to prevent tripping hazards. Labelling boxes and storage areas for those who need a reminder of where things are can be very useful. This can be in written format or simply a picture. This is particularly useful for older adults with Dementia or other neurological conditions.
2. Improve lighting
Lighting can make a real difference to safety in the home. Use bright, energy-efficient bulbs in all rooms. Ensure you keep any cords or wires from lamps tucked away to minimize entanglement. You may want to also think about adding motion-sensor lights in hallways, staircases, and doorways. Nightlights in bedrooms and bathrooms can help guide you safely at night. These really do help reduce the risk of falls and there are many to choose from with varying brightness so that they do not disrupt a peaceful night’s sleep.
3. Secure rugs and carpets
Loose rugs can be a serious trip hazard. Using non-slip pads underneath rugs or if you can, remove them altogether. If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, regularly check that it is securely in place.
4. Install grab bars and handrails
In areas like the bathroom and stairways, you could install grab bars to provide support and stability. Handrails on both sides of staircases can also help prevent falls. Involve your loved one in these decisions if that is possible, after all, it is their home. You can tie in nice handrails on the staircase with the current décor as there are many to choose from. Having choice is important, it can feel less alien when we have a say over how we adapt our home to help us to stay where we belong. These modifications can be especially beneficial for seniors or those with mobility issues.
5.Prioritize bathroom safety
The bathroom can be a particularly risky area. You could make the following changes:
- Non-slip mats in the shower and bathtub.
- Install a shower chair if standing for prolonged periods is difficult.
- Keep regularly used items within easy reach, reducing unnecessary stretching or bending.
- Use toilet seat raisers
An assessment from Occupational Health can give you access to shower chairs, grab rails, toilet seat raisers, chair leg raisers and much more.
Ensure safe stairways
Make sure stairways are free of clutter and obstacles. You could add bright tape to the edges of steps for better visibility. Again, it is useful to regularly check for loose boards or carpet.
Use assistive devices
If mobility is a challenge, consider the following walking aids, sticks/canes, walkers, frames, trollies for around the home. If your doorways are wide enough and you are able, a wheelchair can be useful to have on hand. These can provide much-needed support, and the walking aids are a terrific way to maintain balance and fitness as we are still getting some exercise by being up and about.
Emergency preparedness
Have a plan in place for emergencies for your loved ones and yourself. Ensure the phone is in an accessible place and if you wish, a phone near to you during the night. Have important contacts on hand.
For older adults, a medical alert system that allows you to call for help quickly if you fall can genuinely be a life saver that gives real peace of mind to those that use them as well as family. You could also find out about local emergency services. Talking with your neighbours and arranging a plan for an emergency can also be useful and again peace of mind for all.
It is also important to check that fire alarms, house alarms, locks and windows are not only secure but are also working correctly. These should be assessed regularly.
Assess furniture arrangement
Assess the arrangement of your furniture in each room. Allow for easy movement within that room and throughout the home. Keep pathways clear and ensure there’s adequate space between pieces of furniture to avoid bumping into them. Consider minimizing the amount of furniture you have in each room; do you really need it? Use this time as a fantastic opportunity not only for a change around but also for creating more space and sprouting up your rooms, sometimes less is more!
Regular medical check-ups
It is important to encourage regular medical check-ups, especially for older adults. Regular vision, hearing and balance assessments can help throw up any issues before they lead to falls. Regular reviews of medications are also important because some can affect balance and potentially cause dizziness.
Creating a safety mindset
As well as physical changes, keeping a safety-conscious mindset is essential. Having open discussions about safety within the family will allow everyone to be on the same page. Often having these discussions can lead to us thinking more broadly about safety at home and what it means to us all, the more heads, the more ideas.
Educating your children about the importance of practicing safe behaviour at home is imperative to their health and well-being too. Taking these steps early, will not only keep them safe but also teach them important life skills that they can apply well into their adult years, passing this knowledge onto future generations should they have families themselves.
By taking positive steps to maximise safety in the home, you can severely reduce the risk of falls and accidents. Implementing these changes and modifications will create a safer living environment for everyone. It will allow you to enjoy your home with peace of mind. For all of us safety is an ongoing process and reassessing your home will remind you to stay vigilant, ensuring it remains a safe, peaceful place to relax and unwind in.
If you would like more information and confidential chat about how The Bespoke Life can support you, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
