Fall prevention at home

Falls are the single most common reason a family goes from managing to not managing overnight. A fracture at eighty frequently marks the end of independent living, and most falls happen in the home doing ordinary things.

Most of the fixes are cheap. The expensive part is the fall you did not prevent.

Bathroom

More falls happen here than anywhere else in the house, because it combines wet surfaces, low seating and awkward movements.

• Grab rails by the toilet and inside the shower, screwed into studs, not suction cups
• A non-slip mat inside the bath or shower
• A shower chair and a handheld shower head
• A raised toilet seat if standing from low is difficult
• A night light on the route from the bed

Stairs and hallways

• Handrails on both sides where possible, running the full length
• Nothing stored on the stairs, ever
• Contrast tape on the top and bottom step if vision is poor
• Light switches at both ends of the stairs and the hallway
• Loose rugs removed rather than taped down

Bedroom

• A lamp reachable from the bed without getting up
• A clear, unobstructed path to the bathroom
• Bed at a height where feet reach the floor when sitting
• A phone within reach of the bed
• Slippers with backs and grip, not loose ones

Kitchen and living areas

• Everyday items moved between waist and shoulder height
• No standing on chairs or stools, ever
• Cables routed away from walking paths
• A firm chair with arms that is easy to rise from
• Spills cleaned immediately, which may mean someone checking daily

The things that are not about the house

Environment is only half of it. Several of the strongest risk factors are medical and get missed.

• Medication review, since sedatives and blood pressure drugs raise fall risk
• Vision check and up-to-date glasses
• Footwear, since worn soles and backless slippers are a common cause
• Strength and balance decline from inactivity
• Dehydration and low blood pressure on standing

After a fall

Any fall is worth reporting to a doctor even if nothing is broken, because a first fall is the best predictor of a second.

Unexplained bruising, particularly on arms and hips, usually means falls that were not mentioned. Ask directly rather than waiting to be told.

Where we help

We arrange this across the Wasatch Front, from Ogden and Layton in the north through Salt Lake County and down to Provo, Orem and Springville. Pick your city from the service areas menu for local detail, costs and who pays.