'How Can I Live Safer in My Home?'

Question: I am a senior and want to stay in my home for as long as I can. My daughter said there are too many hazards for me here. How can I live safer in my home?

Your daughter is correct. What used to be a safe zone for you when you were younger can become extremely hazardous. As you age, your home should be someplace where you feel safe and secure.

A 2014 study conducted by the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention found that 28.7% of adults over 65 reported falling at least once in the last 12 months. Another study conducted by the Hospital for Special Surgery found that 60% of falls happen in the home.

But there are safety modifications that you can do to reduce fall risk.

Lighting

Make sure you replace the current bulbs with brighter LED bulbs. Often the lighting is too dim to see hazards in your way. Having motion-detecting lighting is also helpful both inside and outside your home.

Placing them in hallways, stairwells and bathrooms will illuminate your travel from one point in your home to another. Battery-operated lighting will prove to be helpful if the electricity goes off.

Proper Footwear

One of the easiest modifications that you can make, to prevent slips and falls, is to wear the proper kind of shoes. Nonslip footwear like slippers, loafers or sneakers that have a rubber sole will create traction while you are walking.

Make sure they have a closed back so that you don't slip out of them when taking a step back. Hard sole shoes contribute to more sensation being sent to the base of your feet, which in turn provides the sense of stability and balance.

Clean up that Floor

Pick up anything off the ground that might make you stumble, such as baskets with magazines, stacks of newspapers and bills, or area rugs that you can get your foot caught under.

Remove any extension cords, throw rugs, canes or items that stick out into your walking paths including mops and brooms. Even traditional nonslip mats can become hazardous if the mat creates even the smallest rise between steps. This can get caught under a walker and create the walker to stop suddenly, flipping you over the top of it and injuring yourself.

Bathroom Dangers

Many of us have throw rugs in our bathrooms. By removing those you can eliminate a huge slip and trip hazard. Slippery tile flooring is also a danger, so be aware of standing water on tiles and make sure your feet are dry when stepping out of the bath or shower.

Walk-in showers are preferred over shower and tub combos. When climbing out of the tub it is easy to lose your balance and fall. Place safety grab bars in and around your shower and tub area so that you can hold onto them when needed.

Be aware that while washing your hair, just looking up at the ceiling can cause dizziness. Hold onto a safety grab bar to keep you stable while you use the other hand to wash or rinse your hair. Be mindful of the water temperature before you enter the shower or bath.

As we age, our skin becomes thinner making it more likely to be burned by the heat. Keep your soap and shampoo at a level where you do not have to bend or lift. Do not use body soaps that can drip onto the ground and cause a slip hazard.

Bathroom falls are more than twice as likely to result in an injury compared to falls elsewhere, according to a study published in the Injury Epidemiology Journal.

Living Area

You spend most of the time during your day in this location, so spend a lot of time hazard proofing it. Pay close attention to low-level tables and ottomans that are in your walking path. Consider removing the coffee table and replacing it with taller tables beside your couch and chairs.

Make sure that your favorite sitting place is high enough to easily get in and out of. If you still use a landline phone, make sure it is close to where you normally sit so you can access it when you need to. Make sure the cord to the phone is not in a walking path.

Pets

We love them but they are a huge fall risk. According to the CDC, there is an estimated average of 86,629 fall injuries a year due to cats and dogs. Placing a bell on their collars will let you know where they are.

If this does not work because of hearing impairment, then you will have to be very attentive as to where they are while you are walking. Walk slower and more deliberately. You don't want to be caught off guard!

Stairs

If possible, do not walk up or down stairs that do not have railings. Even with railings, it is very easy for your foot to slip on carpeted stairs. Remove the carpet and add a nonslip tread to your steps. Make sure to use motion detection lighting to illuminate halls and stairwells.

Kimberly Jensen has been working with Quail Park as a Senior Resource Advocate for over ten years and has helped hundreds of families find solutions to their senior problems.

If you have a question, you can send it to her at KimberlyJ@QPCypress.com or call (559) 737-7443.