Room by Room Guide to Fall Proofing Your Home
Before we say goodbye to September and Fall Prevention Awareness Month, we at Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle want to offer our Nature Coast patients some tips on ways to make your home safer to prevent a fall. Did you know over 50% of all falls happen at home? There are many modifications throughout the house you can make that will eliminate hazards and make your home a no-fall zone. Enlist a family member or friend to help assess your home and make any necessary changes.
Entryway
Fall prevention begins before you even enter your home. Take a look at the entrances to your home: front door, back door, driveway. Are there cracks in the pavement or stairs? Loose stones or debris that might cause you to trip? How about lighting? It’s essential to have a lit path into your home for nighttime hours.
Kitchen
Consider the items you use daily and rearrange cabinets and counters so those items are always within easy reach. Eliminate the need for a step ladder. Store holiday decorations and seasonal things in harder-to-reach cabinets and ask for assistance getting them down when it’s time to use them.
Bathroom
Water and tile create a slippery situation. Add no-slip grip strips to the floor of the tub or shower and a grab bar. A shower seat can make it less of a balancing act to wash. If you have a tub/shower combination and stepping in is difficult, consider remodeling to change to a walk-in shower. Add grab bars around the toilet as well.
Living Areas
Consider the following tips as you walk through the rest of your home:
Remove clutter, piles of magazines, plants, footstools, and other small items from the floor.
Get rid of throw rugs.
Relocate electrical and computer cords so they don’t cross any walkways.
Add extra stair rails to all staircases so you can hold on to both sides.
Increase lighting in hallways.
Remember that our podiatrist, Dr. Lawrence J. Kales, can help assess your fall risk and make other recommendations to prevent falls. Make an appointment at our Hudson office by calling 727-868-2128 or 352-683-5799 to learn more.