Share This Page

Support & Insight for the Autumn of Life

14 Ways to Prevent Falling at Home

EMERGENCIES due to falling happen 54% more often in dementia. As a rule, 1-in-3 adults over 65 fall each year. Most falls happen at home. Make a few simple changes and prevent falls.
140209-handrail.jpeg

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths for seniors, with 1-in-3 adults over the age of 65 falling every year. Older adults with dementia are up to 60% more likely to fall, putting them at a greater risk of sustaining injuries, which can lead to hospitalization and immobility.

Six out of every 10 falls happen at home, where we
spend much of our time and tend to move around
without thinking about our safety. Many of these falls
could be prevented by making these simple changes:

  1. MAKE FINDING “MY STUFF” EASIER: Put frequently used items in easily-accessible places.
  2. REMOVE STUMBLING BLOCKS: Remove anything that could cause you to trip or slip while
    walking. Clutter, small furniture, pet bowls, electrical or
    phone cords, and throw rugs can cause falls.
  3. ORGANIZE FURNITURE: Arrange furniture so you have plenty of room to walk freely.
    Also, remove items from stairs and hallways. Get rid of chairs that swivel.
  4. MODEST BATHROOM UPGRADES: Use non-slip items in the bathroom. Put non-slip strips or a
    rubber mat on the floor of your bathtub or shower. Add a tub rail, grab bars, elevated toilet seat and/or bath seat.
  5. HANDRAIL HABITS: Get consistent with using the handrails on your stairs. When you carry
    something up or down the stairs, hold the item in one
    hand and use the handrail with the other.
  6. LIGHTING:
    • Make sure you have enough lighting in each room, on stairs, hallways,
      at entrances, and on outdoor walkways.
    • Lamps and lighting should be of great intensity or power, so that dangers are clearly illuminated and seen. Use light bulbs that
      have the highest wattage recommended for the fixture.
    • Place a lamp next to your bed along with night lights in
      the bathroom, hallways, and kitchen.
    • Keep a flashlight by
      your bed in case the power goes out and you need to get
      up at night.
  7. CARPETS: Secure carpets to the floor and stairs. Use non-slip rugs, or
    attach rugs to the floor with double-sided tape.
  8. FLOORS: Avoid wet floors, and clean up spills right away. Use only
    non-skid wax on your waxed floors.
  9. SHOES: Wear rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes that fully support
    your feet. Wearing only socks or shoes/slippers with
    smooth soles on stairs or floors without carpet can
    be unsafe. Assess the gripping nature of rubber-soled shoes, which may be a tripping hazard because they sometimes ‘catch’ on the floor.
  10. EYES & EARS: Have your eyes and hearing tested often. Always
    wear your glasses when you need them. If you have
    a hearing aid, be sure it fits well, and wear it.
  11. MEDICATION: Find out about the side effects of any medicine you
    take. If a drug makes you sleepy, slow or dizzy, tell your
    doctor or pharmacist. (See the article, “Beware of Common Anticholinergic Drugs“)
  12. SLEEP: Get enough sleep. If you’re sleepy, you’re more
    likely to fall.
  13. ALCOHOL: Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Even a small
    amount can affect balance and reflexes.
  14. KEEP ON MOVING:
    • Stay physically active.
    • Light exercise to increase lower-body strength, as well as simple balance
      exercises, can help prevent falls.
    • Consider assisted devices when walking alone becomes unsafe, like a cane, walker or wheelchair.
    • Weight-bearing activities, such as walking or
      climbing stairs, may slow bone loss from osteoporosis.
    • Stand up slowly after eating, lying down, or sitting.
      Getting up too quickly can cause your blood pressure
      to drop, which can make you feel faint.

Falls are a major, yet preventable, threat to the independence and health of older adults, especially those living with dementia.

With the 14 fall prevention tips above, family members can reduce the risk of falls and make a huge difference in the life of their loved one.


SOURCES:

  • Lewy Body Dementia Association
  • National Institute on Aging
  • National Institutes of Health
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Email me when people comment
Notify of
guest

2 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Unknown
Unknown
May 8, 2017 1:40 pm

Falls are preventable, they do not have to happen! I agree with all recommendations except lighting is left short and may be bad advice to just use the brightest intensity possible. This could cause blinding glare and also bleaches the eye and it takes longer to adjust. There are very simple techniques in lighting that work. Even illumination, reflected illumination off non glare surfaces. Night lights should be large, warm (no blue) and less bright so the adapted eye stays adapted and can see. I can help make a difference and a very low cost.
Newton Lighting Enterprises, 585-944-4158, http://www.newtonlightingent.com

Courious too
Courious too
March 18, 2021 10:42 pm

Could you put up info on “How to Care for someone with Visio Perceptual Difficulties with Dementia?”

Edited by:
B. Berger

B. Berger

This site was inspired by my Mom’s autoimmune dementia.

It is a place where we separate out the wheat from the chaffe, the important articles & videos from each week’s river of news. With a new post on Alzheimer’s or dementia appearing on the internet every 7 minutes, the site’s focus on the best information has been a help to many over the past 15 years. Thanks to our many subscribers for your supportive feedback.

The site is dedicated to all those preserving the dignity of the community of people living with dementia.

Peter Berger, Editor

Share this page To

Related:

Share to Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

This site was inspired by my Mom’s autoimmune dementia.

It is a place where we separate out the wheat from the chaffe, the important articles & videos from each week’s river of news. With a new post on Alzheimer’s or dementia appearing on the internet every 7 minutes, the site’s focus on the best information has been a help to many over the past 15 years. Thanks to our many subscribers for your supportive feedback.

The site is dedicated to all those preserving the dignity of the community of people living with dementia.

Peter Berger, Editor

Visit Alzheimer's Weekly On

2
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
News, Treatments, Care Tips

Subscribe To The Alzheimer's & Dementia Weekly Newsletter

videos & articles on Research & Prevention
News to Get at the Truth

Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter

×