Here are a few simple things you can do to help reduce the risk of trips and falls in the home.
- Remove throw rugs. They often have curled corners or rumpled ridges that can cause someone to trip. Or they can slip on the hard surface beneath. One option is to use double-sided tape. This helps keep corners flat and the rug “glued down” to the floor.
- Use nonskid mats in the bathroom.
- Install grab bars in the bathroom, especially beside the toilet and in the shower or tub.
- Put a bath bench in the shower so the person you care for can sit if he or she feels dizzy.
- Put a riser seat on the toilet. This way your relative does not have to struggle to stand up. (Many seniors lose their balance in the effort to stand up from a seated position.)
- Avoid the use of ladders or a step stool. Store items that are used frequently in cupboards or shelves that are low and easy to reach.
- Improve the lighting in hallways or stairs. Improved visibility increases the chance your family member will see an obstacle and avoid a tumble.
- Repair broken or unstable steps or stairs. An uneven or unexpected surface on the stairs is a situation that can easily cause someone to stumble and fall.
- Install handrails at all stairways. Catching oneself from a fall is as important as not falling to begin with.
Additionally talk with your parents doctor if your love one is:
- Taking more than three or four medications
- Having trouble with their vision or hearing
- Experiencing dizziness when standing or numbness in their feet
- Seeming depressed or isolated
Comfort Makers in-home care will help to reduce fall hazards and by establishing a care-giving routine with your aging parent. Caregivers report changes in conditions of your loved one and the nurse can help alert you if a doctor visit may be necessary.
