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Making the home safe and preventing falls
A fall is one of the quickest ways an older person loses confidence and independence. The good news is that most falls at home come from a handful of ordinary hazards, and you can deal with the bulk of them in an afternoon.
Walk the route they actually walk
Start at the bed and follow the path to the bathroom, the kitchen and the front door — the trips people make half-asleep or in a hurry. Those are where falls happen.
- Loose rugs and mats are the worst offender. Either take them up or fix the edges down with proper anti-slip tape. A turned-up corner is a trip waiting to happen.
- Trailing flexes from lamps and phone chargers should run along the wall, never across a walkway.
- Clutter on the stairs — the pile of things “to take up later” — needs a different home.
Light the way
Older eyes need far more light to see the same thing, and they adjust to changes in brightness more slowly. Put a lamp within reach of the bed, fit a plug-in night light on the landing and the route to the toilet, and make sure the brightest bulb you can use goes at the top and bottom of the stairs. Light switches at both ends of a hallway save a dark walk.
The bathroom
Wet, hard and full of things to grip that weren’t designed to be gripped. A grab rail by the toilet and another by the bath or shower makes a real difference — fitted properly into the wall, not the suction sort. A non-slip mat in the bath, a shower seat, and a raised toilet seat if getting up is hard. An occupational therapist can advise on exactly what suits the room.
Stairs and footwear
Check there’s a secure handrail — ideally on both sides — running the full length of the stairs. As for footwear, well-fitting slippers with a back and a firm sole beat the soft backless kind that flap off. Bare feet and loose socks on a smooth floor are asking for trouble.
Look beyond the house
Falls aren’t only about the carpet. Ask the GP to review medication — some tablets cause dizziness or low blood pressure on standing. Get eyesight and hearing checked. And if someone has had a fall, or a few near misses, ask for a referral to the local falls service; they assess balance and strength and can sort physiotherapy.
If they do fall
A pendant alarm or telecare button worn round the neck or wrist means help can be called even if they can’t reach the phone. For anyone living alone, it’s one of the most reassuring things you can put in place. Your council or Trust can point you to a local scheme.