6 Ways to Reduce Fall Risk for Seniors

Seniors falling is not usually a laughing matter. As we age, falls can become increasingly common and risky for seniors. The frequency of falls increases with age and frailty level. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Report, approximately 30-50% of people living in long-term care institutions fall each year, and 40% of them experienced recurrent falls.

While you may not be able to always stop a senior from falling, you can take some steps to help reduce the risk. There are many reasons for falls in the elderly, so make sure to look at the whole picture. Use these precautions from Vanessa Home Health Center professionals to take care of your loved one and their home to prevent falls:

The bathroom is essential. 

• Avoid wet surfaces (on the floor or counters). 
• Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and shower. 
• Install grab bars in strategic points around the bathroom.
• Provide a shower seat.
• Replace the shower head with a hand-held nozzle.

Stairs are more than important.

• Clear the stairs.
• Differentiate between the stairs. Aging eyes may not always be able to separate one step from the next.
• Shovel snow and chip ice off stairs in the winter.
• Tighten stair handrails.

Tuck away extension cords

Get your senior a proper pair of shoes. 

• Shoes need to fit well and have non-slip soles. 
• Shoes with Velcro straps can be easier to tighten or loosen. 
• They also remove any risk of tripping over long laces.

Remove excess furniture. 

• A more mobile senior may be able to sidestep a footstool or a coffee table but not all seniors can do this. 
• Remove unneeded furniture to give the senior more room to maneuver and help to create a safer living environment. 
• Also, a deep plush armchair may look comfortable but the senior may become trapped if he or she lacks the body strength necessary to push up and out of the chair.

And finally, keep a senior active. Whether through regular walking or light exercising and stretching, an active senior can remain more stable than a sedentary senior. Exercising can help prevent falls by keeping stabilizing muscles strong.