Check For Safety
A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults
Falls at Home
Each year, thousands of older Americans fall at home. Many of them are seriously injured, and some are disabled. In 1996, more than 8,500 people over age 65 died because of falls.
Falls are often due to hazards that are easy to overlook but easy to fix. This checklist will help you find and fix those hazards in your home.
The checklist asks about hazards found in each room of your home. For each hazard, the checklist tells you how to fix the problem. At the end of the checklist, you will find other tips for preventing falls.
Floors
Look at the floor in each room.
| Q: | When you walk through a room, do you have to walk around furniture? |
|
|
| Q: | Do you have throw rugs on the floor? |
|
|
| Q: | Are papers, magazines, books, shoes, boxes, blankets, towels or other objects on the floor? |
|
|
| Q: | Do you have to walk over or around cords or wires (like cords from lamps, extension cords, or telephone cords)? |
|
Stairs and Steps
Look at the stairs you use both inside and outside your home.
| Q: | Are papers, shoes, books, or other objects on the stairs? |
|
|
| Q: | Are some steps broken or uneven? |
|
|
| Q: | Are you missing a light over the stairway? |
|
|
| Q: | Has the stairway light bulb burned out? |
|
|
| Q: | Do you have only one light switch for your stairs (only at the top or at the bottom of the stairs)? |
|
|
| Q: | Are the handrails loose or broken? Is there a handrail on only one side of the stairs? |
|
|
| Q: | Is the carpet on the steps loose or torn? |
|
Kitchen
Look at your kitchen and eating area.
| Q: | Are the things you use often on high shelves? |
|
|
| Q: | Is your step stool unsteady? |
|
Bedrooms
Look at all your bedrooms.
| Q: | Is the light near the bed hard to reach? |
|
|
| Q: | Is the path from your bed to the bathroom dark? |
|
Bathrooms
Look at all your bathrooms.
| Q: | Is the tub or shower floor slippery? |
|
|
| Q: | Do you have some support when you get in and out of the tub or up from the toilet? |
|
Other Things You Can Do to Prevent Falls
Exercise Regularly. Exercise makes you stronger and improves your balance and coordination.
Have your doctor or pharmacist look at all the medicines you take, even over-the-counter medicines. Some medicines can make you sleepy or dizzy.
Have your vision checked at least once a year by an eye doctor. Poor vision can increase your risk of falling.
Get up slowly after you sit or lie down.
Wear sturdy shoes with thin, non-slip soles. Avoid slippers and running shoes with thick soles.
Improve the lighting in your home. Use brighter light bulbs (at least 60 watts). Use lamp shades or frosted bulbs to reduce glare.
Use reflecting tape at the top and bottom of the stairs so you can see them better.
Paint doorsills a different color to prevent tripping.
Other Safety Tips
Keep emergency numbers in large print near each phone.
Put a phone near the floor in case you fall and can't get up.
Think about wearing an alarm device that will bring help in case you fall and can't get up.
| Back |
Material taken from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.