Avoid Falls In Your Home with These 4 Tips

Did you know that falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for people aged 65+? Or that one in three aging Americans falls every year?

With statistics like that, it’s crucial to do everything you can to avoid falling as you age. We have some simple tips for how you can avoid falls in your home—and elsewhere—as you get older.

Tip #1: Get a Yearly Eye Exam

As we age, vision problems arise. These can include conditions like glaucoma and cataracts, or even a simple issue like less light reaching the retina, which can make it more difficult to see potential tripping hazards.

By getting a yearly eye exam, your doctor will be able to keep tabs on any current conditions—and be on the lookout for arising problems. They can also update your eyeglasses prescription or suggest surgery to help keep your eyesight in tip-top shape.

Tip #2: Talk to Your Doctor About Your Medications

If you’re taking multiple medications, it’s possible they may be reacting in a negative way. This could cause dizziness, confusion, or other side effects. Taking over-the-counter medications in conjunction with your prescribed medications can also cause these adverse side effects—especially if the over-the-counter medications cause drowsiness.

Talk to your doctor about all of the medications you’re taking, including over-the-counter drugs, and let them know falling is a concern for you. They can make sure that none of your medications are reacting in a harmful way, or change some of your medications if they are.

Tip #3: Add More Lighting to Your Home

It’s easy to trip over objects when they’re hard to see. Dimly lit rooms can cause objects to be cast in shadow or complete darkness, making them a huge tripping hazard. Walking in dark hallways at night to get to bed or use the restroom can also pose a threat.

Adding more lighting to your home can help you see—and avoid—tripping hazards. Try adding lamps to your living space, including by your bed, and night lights to hallways and bathrooms. You can even switch normal light switches for ones that glow-in-the-dark. Be sure to have flashlights that are easy to get to around your house for the occasional power outage.

Tip #4: Get a Safety Assessment of Your Home

Tripping hazards can be located all over your home without you even realizing it. From a rug to a bathtub, there are likely several common household items in your house that could cause a fall in the future.

The best way to recognize these safety hazards is by getting a safety assessment of your home. The assessment will identify any threats lurking in your home, and include recommendations for how to fix the problems.

At Bluebird Homecare, we believe in aging in place and with dignity. As part of our commitment to this, we offer home safety assessments with a custom plan for living safely in your home.