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Older Adults

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Falls Prevention

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Do You Have a Safe Home?

Do You Have A Safe Home?

Living Room

electrical and phone cords are taped down along baseboard, not under rugs rugs are smooth and firmly attached pathways are clear furniture is sturdy with no protruding sharp edges a fireplace screen is in place

1. Cool ashes from your fireplace or airtight stove completely before placing them in a metal container outside your home. 2. Use large, deep ash trays.  Wet the ashes before putting them in a metal container

Stairs

are well lit, with the maximum wattage bulb allowed by the light fixture in place a two way light switch, at both the top and bottom sturdy handrails worth knobs extending beyond the top and bottom step on both sides steps are evenly spaced steps are not slippery carpet is tacked down securely steps are free of clutter there are contrasting colour strips on the edge of the steps

1. have stair edges highly visible from both directions, because bifocal or multifocal glasses increase your chances of falling 2. Rest during or at the end of climbing stairs.  Climbing can increase the heart rate by 70% 3. Be careful on steep stairs!  Going up, your toe can catch on protruding steps.  Coming down, there is less room to firmly place the foot.

Bathroom

a non-skid mat in the tub a non-skid mat on the floor grab bars are on the bath tub grab bars are beside the toilet wall grab bars are in the tub area has bright lights has a night light no electrical appliance is near the water a deep soap dish so the soap doesn't slip out water heater is no higher than 54C (130F)

1. Use bath chairs and hand-held shower nozzles for safe bathing 2. Check the water temperature with your hand to prevent scalds. 3. Get up easier with a raised toilet seat.

Basement/Storage Area

Flammable products are away form furnaces, heaters, pilot lights and other sources of heat floors are free of dirt, grease and spills bright light tools are unplugged and stored away storage area is dry and organized

1. Carry small loads of laundry. Dropped clothing may cause falls. 2. Store gasoline or kerosene in CSA approved containers outside your home. 3. Discard paints, batteries and chemicals through the Household Hazardous Waste Program.

Bedroom

a phone beside the bed  emergency numbers are on the phone night lights are available  a table lamp is near bed a flashlight is near bed electrical cords are taped along baseboards pathway between bed and bathroom is clear non slip mats are used smoke alarms are installed and working there is a second way out in the event of a fire the room is free of clutter

1. Sit up slowly from a lying position. Getting up quickly can cause dizziness 2. Use bed rails as grip to help you get up. 3. Use a commode or urinal to  reduce falls 4. Have Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approved electrical blankets.  Don't cover them.  Heat build up can be dangerous.  A sheet under the blanket will help protect the skin. 5. Keep bedroom warm.  Lower body temperature in older adults may cause dizziness, leading to falls. 6. Test smoke alarm batteries monthly.  Replace batteries once a year using a special day as a reminder.  For example, when you change the clocks, change the batteries. 7. Consider a smoke alarm with light signals for "hard-of-hearing" people. 8. Vacuum the smoke alarm once a year.

Kitchen

heavy items are kept on lower shelves, light items higher a sturdy step stool is available dishes and kitchen supplies are easy to reach cupboard doors and drawers are closed floors are clean and dry, not slippery pot handles are turned inward and oven mitts ready flammable material is kept away from the stove cleaning supplies are stored away form food areas and heat fat and oil are stored away from the stove a CSA approved deep fryer a fire extinguisher is on bracket in a handy location sharp knives are kept in knife block or holder floors are free of clutter

1. Keep floors in good repair 2. Use non-skid mats to prevent falls 3. Don't mix cleaning products.  This practice causes poisonous fumes! 4. Wrap broken glass in old newspapers to throw out. 5. Use caution when carrying pots of hot liquid.  A fall could end in a burn. 6. Avoid loose, draping clothing when cooking.  It can catch fire. 7. Use kettles and irons with automatic shut off.

Medication

is stored in a cool, dry place is in original container, clearly labelled has resistant caps have a list of all medication, including the name, dose and directions

1. Take only your own medication 2. Use them as directed on the label 3. Use a pill organizer.  Pills can be put out for one day or up to one week 4. Take your medication in a bag to your doctor visits.  Include all over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies.  Mixing drugs can be harmful. 5.Alcohol can be dangerous when mixed with medication.  Talk to the pharmacist. 6. Ask for "easy to open caps" as child resistant caps are hard to  open. 7. Heat, light and humidity can spoil drugs.  Store them in a linen cupboard out of reach of children. 8. Use one pharmacy.  All your prescriptions will be on file. 9. Return expired medication, or any that have been open more than a year, to your pharmacy for disposal. 10. Ask your pharmacist and doctor about medication.

HomeSecurity

outside doors are solid and in secure frames doors have a peep hole with a wide angle viewer glass is break resistant there is a dead bolt lock, with a one inch bolt the lock is not within reach from a window the door is licked, even when you are inside there is metal or wood in window or door tracks to stop them from sliding open there are security bars in basement windows bushes are trimmed so basement windows are easily seen pathways and doorways have motion detector lights.

1. Keep emergency numbers and directions to your home beside your phones; include the address, closest major intersection and major landmarks. 2. Have your house numbers visible and lit at night. 3. Use your first name initial for phone book and apartment lobby listings. 4. When going away: cancel your newspapers. have your flowers watered, lawn mowed or snow shovelled have a trusted person check your home, collect mail, rearrange lighting and draperies install timers on your lights avoid posting notes 5. Close blinds and drapes at night. 6. Wear a medical alarm to call for help in emergencies. 7. Give a key to one or more trusted persons. 8. Avoid elevators in storms and fires.

Last Revised/Reviewed
Thursday, 2008-01-31 1:55 PM

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