Author: DeTar Healthcare System

Home Safety Checklist

q Remove throw rugs
q Keep electric cords gathered up and tucked behind furniture.
q Clear stairs and steps of clutter or loose carpet.
q Install handrails in walk-ways and grab bars in the bathroom.
q Use raised toilet seats.
q Make sure you can reach your lamp and your telephone from your bed.
q Make sure there is proper lighting everywhere.
q Make sure that there are no slippery floors. Use non-slip mats in the bathroom.
q Keep things you use the most often on lower shelves.

A Personal Fall Prevention Plan can help you take control of your safety and help to reduce your risk of falls. Here’s how to begin your plan:
Take time TODAY to think about your fall risks.
Let your family, friends and neighbors know that fall-prevention is a priority for you and you need them to help you stay safe.
Make an appointment with your doctor to review your fall risks and your medications.
Review and reduce the risks in your home.
Make sure you have and use your assistive devices, such as canes or walkers.
Stay Active!

Personal Fall Prevention Plan

More than 1/3 of older adults fall each year and half of those falls occur in or around the home. After a person falls, they are 2 to 3 times more likely to fall again in the same year. Of those who do fall, about 25% will suffer moderate to severe injuries. Preventing falls at home helps to increase independence and reduce the risk of injury and hospitalization.

Golden Crescent
Regional Advisory
Council

Preventing Falls at Home

Golden Crescent RAC Injury Prevention Committee

Regular Medical Check-Ups
It is very important that you see your doctor every year to have a full physical exam, including vision, medications, and blood pressure checks. Make sure you also your feet and ankles checked. Pain and problems with the feet can increase your risk of falls.

What you can do to Prevent Falls at Home:

Review Your Medications
Often, our health requires that we take several medications. If you take four or more medications on a daily basis, you are at a greater risk of falls. As we age, our ability to breakdown medications slows down so that ‘regular’ doses of medications may have stronger effects. Some medications may interact with each other causing dizziness and low blood pressure—both of these can increase the risk of falls. It is important to have your doctor or pharmacists review your medications with you so that you know your risks. It is also important to know that over-the-counter medications can also interact with your prescribed medications. Please note that medications that are ‘blood thinners’ can increase your risk of severe injury if you fall.
Personal and Home Safety
Protecting yourself from falls can include using a home safety checklist to make sure you reduce fall hazards in your home. Assistive devices such as canes, walkers and hip protectors are known to reduce the potential for injury if you should fall.
Staying active is recommended for improving muscle strength, flexibility and balance. Staying active refers to not only structured exercise in a gym, but also routine activities such as walking, shopping, working in the garden, sweeping, yoga, dancing, swimming or other personal care activities. If you engage in regular physical activity, you will increase your chances to have more years of active independent living, reduce disability and improve your quality of life.
The American College of Sports Medicine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health recommend that an older adult should do 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week.

Stay Active

Know your Fall Risk Factors

Knowing your risk factors can help you to prevent falls. The most common risk factors are:
t Osteoporosis: Breakdown of the bones as we age.
t Vision Changes: Visual acuity and depth perception change with aging.
t Lack of Activity: Reduced activity leads to decreased muscle strength and flexibility.
t Previous Falls: If you have fallen recently, you are more likely to fall again if you do not take preventative measures.