Fall Prevention Checklist for Seniors

According to Aging.com, “Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall.” (1) There are many factors that can contribute to a senior’s fall risk. These include hazards around your home, medical conditions, and physical impairments. Fortunately, there are several fall prevention strategies you can use as a senior to prevent falls and injuries.

Aging.com also states that, “Every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.” (2) This is a startling statistic. Fortunately, there are tools like an Alert1 medical alert device for seniors that can help ensure your overall safety as you age in place. Medical alert technology for the elderly can allow you to immediately get the help you need if you do fall. By pressing a wearable alarm button, you will speak to a trained agent at Alert1’s Command Center, who will send the help you need.

If you are at risk of falling, you should use aging in place home modification tips to make your home a safer place. This check list will provide you with some fall prevention strategies:

Floors & Tripping Hazards

• Repair Any Damage - If any parts of your floor or carpet are damaged or loose, be sure you get them repaired.

• Throw Rugs and Carpets - According to the US National Library of Medicine, “Annually, an estimated 37,991 adults age 65 years or older were treated in U.S. emergency departments for falls associated with carpets and rugs.” (3) When throw rugs get flipped over, they can pose a tripping hazard. Consider replacing them, taping them down, or getting rubber mats to prevent them from sliding.

• Clutter - Clutter on your floors is a tripping hazard, especially if you have poor vision. Remove the clutter and come up with an organization system to help you navigate your home safely.

• Cords – When your foot gets caught on a cord it can knock you off balance and cause you to fall. Limit the number of cords in your home or tape them down to help reduce your fall risk.

• Slippery Surfaces - If you have hardwood floors that are slippery, consider getting rugs to improve your grip and avoid senior falls. Be sure to get a mop with a long handle as well so that you can easily clean up any spills.

If you’ve fallen and can’t get up, a wireless emergency alert system for seniors can help you get the assistance you require. When you press the panic button on your device, you will hear a certified emergency response agent come on the line. They will ask you questions to assess the situation, and then contact either your Circle of Care or medical help, if necessary. Your Circle of Care is a predetermined list of contacts that you provide when you first purchase your senior fall alert system.

Furniture

• Avoid Swivel Chairs – If a swivel chair happens to move while you are trying to get up, it can knock you off balance. Try to avoid swivel chairs.

• Avoid Chairs without Armrests – Chairs without armrests also lack support and stability. They don’t have any places for you to steady and direct yourself as you try to get up.

• Make Sure Feet Can Touch the Ground – If there is a gap between yourself and the ground as you try to get up, it can affect your ability to land stably on the ground. It is safer to only use chairs that are low enough for your feet to touch the ground.

Bathroom

• Grab Bars –You can help prevent falls in the bathroom by installing grab bars. If you lose your balance, you have a way to catch yourself.

• Bathmats - Put bathmats inside your shower as well as right outside your shower to avoid falling on wet, slippery floors.

• Bath Bench – If you have weak muscles or balance issues, consider getting a bath bench. This way if you get tired while showering, you can rest and reduce your risk of falling.

According to the US National Library of Medicine, “The most common location for fall injuries in the home is the bathroom.”(4) If you fall in the shower or on the bathroom floor, a water-resistant fall prevention alarm can be a life-saving tool. When the fall detection sensor within the device registers a fall, it will automatically contact Alert1’s emergency response agents without even having to press a button. The agent will then get you whatever help you require,

Stairs

• Handrails – It is very important to have handrails on stairs. They help you stabilize yourself as you go up or down the stairs as well as help you catch yourself if you start to fall. If any stairways in your home don’t have railings, be sure to install some.

• Keep Obstacles Off Stairwells - Some people like to put decorations on their stairs or other items that they need to take up or down the stairs. However, this presents a fall risk. It is safer to avoid putting any items on your stairs.

• Bright Tape - If you have any issues with your vision, putting bright tape on the edges of stairs can help you see them so that you avoid missteps and falling.

• Put Items in Easy to Reach Places to Avoid Stairs – Be strategic about where you place your items. For instance, if you have any items that you use both upstairs and downstairs such as charger cables, sweaters, blankets, etc., consider buying multiple items so that you don't have to constantly carry items up and down the stairs.

• Mobile Stair Lift – A mobile stairlift is a great safety tool that can help you get up and down the stairs safely.

According to Conney Safety, “Over 1 million injuries occur each year as the result of stairway falls.”(5) If you get injured by falling on a stairwell, a fall detection device for seniors can provide you with added protection. If you are injured and cannot push a button for help, the fall detection sensor can provide a back-up plan. If it registers a fall, it will automatically contact Alert1’s Command Center for help. Then a certified emergency response agent will get you the help you need.

Lighting

• Ensure All Areas Are Well Lit - Ensure that all areas of your home are well lit including the outside, hallways, and closets.

• Consider Keeping Lights on In High-Traffic Areas – If there are any areas of your home that you use often, consider simply leaving the lights on. This will help you avoid walking in the dark and decrease your risk of falling.

• Ensure Lamps are Easy to Reach – Place all your lamps and light switches in easy to reach places. This will also help you avoid having to walk across a room in the dark. You may also want to consider lighting that can be controlled via smart device.

• Replace Lightbulbs - If any of your light bulbs burn out, replace them as soon as you can. If it is high up and you require a stepping stool, ask a friend, family member, or neighbor to replace it for you to avoid falling.

• Use Nightlights – If there are any dark places in your home, such as a bathroom or hallway, use nightlights to help brighten them at night.

• Put a Flashlight Near Bed – Keep a flashlight near your bed so that if the power goes out, you have a quick and easy way to light your path.

• Get Regular Check-Ups - Be sure to get regular checkups with your doctor. This will help to ensure that you don't have any underlying issues that could increase your risk of falling.

• Vision – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Each year, one in four Americans 65 and older experiences a fall, the leading cause of injury among older adults, and impaired vision more than doubles this risk.”(6) You should get your vision checked regularly and make sure that your eyeglass prescription is up to date so that you can see as clearly as possible.

• Hearing – According to Healthy Hearing, “A study from the University of Michigan analyzed data on nearly 115,000 seniors newly diagnosed with hearing loss (but otherwise healthy). It found that 13 percent had an injury in a fall within three years, compared to 7.5 percent of the general population their age.”(7). When you have trouble hearing, your body will devote more attention to your other senses to compensate. This can take attention away from balancing and increase your risk of falling. Have your hearing tested regularly so that you know if you need a hearing aid.

• Medications – According to the University of Buffalo, “The percentage of adults 65 and older who were prescribed a fall-risk-increasing drug climbed to 94% in 2017, a significant leap from 57% in 1999.”(8) Some medications can increase your risk of falling by impairing your vison and cognitive abilities. Be sure to check the effects of your medications so that you are aware of the risks. You may also want to ask your doctor for alternative solutions.

• Tell Your Doctor About Previous Falls - If you have experienced any falls, be sure to tell your doctor about them. Your medical practitioner can check you for any underlying conditions that could have caused the fall and help you prevent another. You may also want to consider wearing a medical alert necklace so that you have peace-of-mind that you can easily get help if you do fall again.

• Fall Prevention Exercises – Use fall prevention exercises to improve your strength and balance. Be sure to wear an on-the-go medical alert watch to track you steps and keep you safe while you exercise.

• Diet and Nutrients – Overall, senior health and wellness is a major aspect that contributes to fall risk. Ensure that your diet includes the essential nutrients your mind and body need to perform daily functions. The healthier you are, the less likely you will be to fall.

• Stay Hydrated – Water plays and important role in many of your body’s functions. If you don’t intake the water your body needs, it can cause problems that lead to falls. Be sure to drink plenty of water.

• Footwear – When you buy shoes, be sure to buy sturdy footwear with good cushioning. This will help you stay on your feet and avoid foot pain.

• Canes and Walkers – If you feel unbalanced when you walk, get a cane or walker to help steady yourself.

• Medical Alert Device – An Alert1 emergency response solution can help you get the assistance you need in the event of an accident. If you are injured or cannot get up on your own, you simply press your personal alarm button to speak with an emergency response agent who is on stand-by 24/7/365. You can rest easy knowing you will never face an emergency alone.

1,2 Aging.com staff. n.d. Fact Sheet: Falls- The Biggest Treat to Senior Health and Safety. Aging.com. Fact Sheet: Falls- The Biggest Treat to Senior Health and Safety.

3,4 Rosen, Tony. Mack, Karin A. Noonan, Rita K. Jan. 2013. PMC Articles. US National Library of Medicine. Slipping and Tripping: Fall Injuries in Adults Associated with Rugs and Carpets.

5 Conney Safety staff. n.d. Did You Know? Conney Safety. Stairway/Staircase Accidents.

6 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff. n.d. Vision Health Initiative. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vision Impairment and Older Adult Falls.

7 Ehrenfeld, Temma. July. 2021. Reports. Healthy Hearing. Why Hearing Loss Increases Your Risk of Falling, and What To Do About It.

8 Robinson, Marcene. March. 2021. News Center. University of Buffalo. 94% of Older Adults Prescribed Drugs that Raise Risk of Falling.