According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 14 million people ages 65 and older report falling each year, and about 37% of those people require medical treatment.
Falls are not an inevitable consequence of aging. They can be substantially reduced and even prevented. To that end, the below checklist can be used to fix identifiable hazards in your home.
Here are the issues we suggest you address:
Stairs and Steps (Indoors and Outdoors)
1) Are there papers, shoes, books or other objects on the stairs?
– Always keep objects off the stairs.
2) Are some steps broken or uneven?
– Fix loose or uneven steps.
3) Is there a light and light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs?
– Have an electrician put in an overhead light and light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs. You can get light switches that glow in the dark.
4) Has a stairway light bulb burned out?
– Have a friend or family member change the light bulb.
5) Is the carpet on the steps loose or torn?
– Make sure carpeting is firmly attached to every step or remove the carpet and attach non-slip rubber treads to the stairs.
6) Are the handrails loose or broken? Is there a handrail on only one side of the stairs?
– Fix loose handrails or put in new ones. Make sure handrails are on both sides of the stairs and are as long as the stairs.
Floors
7) When you walk through a room, do you have to walk around furniture or other items on the floor?
– Ask someone to move the furniture and pick up things that are on the floor so your path is clear.
8) Do you have throw rugs on the floor?
– Remove the rugs or use double-sided tape or a non-slip backing so the rugs won’t slip.
9) Do you have to walk over or around wires or cords (like lamp, telephone or extension cords)?
– Coil or tape cords and wires next to the wall so you can’t trip over them. If needed, have an electrician put in another outlet.
Kitchen
10) Are the things you use most often on high shelves?
– Keep things you use often on the lower shelves (about waist high).
11) Is your step stool sturdy?
– If you must use a step stool, get one with a bar to hold on to. Never use a chair as a step stool.
Bedrooms
12) Is the light near your bed hard to reach?
– Place a lamp close to the bed where it’s easy to reach.
13) Is the path from your bed to the bathroom dark?
– Put in a night light so you can see where you’re walking. Some night lights go on by themselves after dark.
Bathrooms
14) Is the tub or shower floor slippery?
– Put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower.
15) Do you need some support when you get in and out of the tub, or up from the toilet?
– Have grab bars put in next to and inside the tub, and next to the toilet.
Click here to view the video “5 Steps for Preventing Falls.”
*Checklist adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by White Plains Hospital’s Fall Prevention Task Force: an interdisciplinary group that includes nurses, nursing technicians, transporters and members of the Hospital’s physical therapy, pharmacy, and quality teams. They collaborate to develop fall prevention and safety best practices to ensure the best possible outcome for every patient. Need a physician? Call 914-849-MyMD (6963) to find the right provider for your needs.
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27 Aug 2024
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 14 million people ages 65 and older report falling each year, and about 37% of those people require medical treatment.
Falls are not an inevitable consequence of aging. They can be substantially reduced and even prevented. To that end, the below checklist can be used to fix identifiable hazards in your home.
Here are the issues we suggest you address:
Stairs and Steps (Indoors and Outdoors)
1) Are there papers, shoes, books or other objects on the stairs?
– Always keep objects off the stairs.
2) Are some steps broken or uneven?
– Fix loose or uneven steps.
3) Is there a light and light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs?
– Have an electrician put in an overhead light and light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs. You can get light switches that glow in the dark.
4) Has a stairway light bulb burned out?
– Have a friend or family member change the light bulb.
5) Is the carpet on the steps loose or torn?
– Make sure carpeting is firmly attached to every step or remove the carpet and attach non-slip rubber treads to the stairs.
6) Are the handrails loose or broken? Is there a handrail on only one side of the stairs?
– Fix loose handrails or put in new ones. Make sure handrails are on both sides of the stairs and are as long as the stairs.
Floors
7) When you walk through a room, do you have to walk around furniture or other items on the floor?
– Ask someone to move the furniture and pick up things that are on the floor so your path is clear.
8) Do you have throw rugs on the floor?
– Remove the rugs or use double-sided tape or a non-slip backing so the rugs won’t slip.
9) Do you have to walk over or around wires or cords (like lamp, telephone or extension cords)?
– Coil or tape cords and wires next to the wall so you can’t trip over them. If needed, have an electrician put in another outlet.
Kitchen
10) Are the things you use most often on high shelves?
– Keep things you use often on the lower shelves (about waist high).
11) Is your step stool sturdy?
– If you must use a step stool, get one with a bar to hold on to. Never use a chair as a step stool.
Bedrooms
12) Is the light near your bed hard to reach?
– Place a lamp close to the bed where it’s easy to reach.
13) Is the path from your bed to the bathroom dark?
– Put in a night light so you can see where you’re walking. Some night lights go on by themselves after dark.
Bathrooms
14) Is the tub or shower floor slippery?
– Put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower.
15) Do you need some support when you get in and out of the tub, or up from the toilet?
– Have grab bars put in next to and inside the tub, and next to the toilet.
Click here to view the video “5 Steps for Preventing Falls.”
*Checklist adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by White Plains Hospital’s Fall Prevention Task Force: an interdisciplinary group that includes nurses, nursing technicians, transporters and members of the Hospital’s physical therapy, pharmacy, and quality teams. They collaborate to develop fall prevention and safety best practices to ensure the best possible outcome for every patient. Need a physician? Call 914-849-MyMD (6963) to find the right provider for your needs.