Tips for Fall Prevention and Home Safety

For older adults, a simple accident can significantly impact their life. A slip on a wet floor or tripping over a rug can lead to a severe physical injury that can become a serious health concern. 

About 1 in 4 people over the age of 65 fall each year, and the risk of falling increases with age and time. However, the risk of falls can be lowered by taking precautions and staying educated on the possible effects of an injury in the long run. 

From the moment you walk through Astral at Franklin’s doors, you’ll discover an assisted living community in Franklin, Indiana, with plenty of heart and a hometown feel.

If you or someone you love is planning for the future, it’s crucial to incorporate fall prevention into these plans. Here are some tips for implementing home safety measures.

Keep Moving!

One of the best ways to promote fall prevention is to stay active and engage in plenty of physical exercise. It may seem redundant for older adults to participate in more physical activities to prevent accidents or falls, as we tend to associate exercise with strenuous movements and the risks that come along with them. However, there are plenty of low-impact activities that older adults can implement into their routines to stay fit and improve their balance! 

For example, yoga and tai chi utilize mindful, meditative and slow movements to build up core strength which can improve balance and coordination. This is ideal for fall prevention, as maintaining a strong core plays a critical role in ensuring your body can withstand everyday activities and prevent injuries or slips. 

The CDC recommends that adults over the age of 65 participate in about 150 minutes a week of physical activity, which can be broken down into 30 minutes a day for five days a week. 

Home Safety Tips

Light Up Your Living Space

It can become challenging to see where you’re walking without proper lighting, making it easier to trip. To combat this, ensure that each light switch in your home has a clear path leading to it, without any objects or hazards in the way. 

Consider placing night lights in bedrooms, bathrooms and hallways in case you have to wake up at night and make sure there’s a lamp within reach of your bed. Before going up or down a staircase, turn on the light switch first so you don’t accidentally miss a step or stumble. 

Use Assistance Devices

Plenty of tools and devices can provide extra balance and assurance that you won’t experience a fall in your home. Many of these are things that you can carry with you or place in certain areas of your home, while others must be installed. 

For example, handrails on both sides of staircases and grab bars by the shower, bathtub and toilet can be easily installed for extra support. 

Remove Hazards

Be sure to look around the rooms in your home to note any hazards or cluttered items that might get in your way. Make sure that any cords, boxes or pieces of furniture are cleared out of all pathways and hallways. Use non-slip rugs and mats in the bathrooms and be sure that all rugs have a slip-resistant backing attached. 

Consider Assisted Living

For many people, aging in place can become stressful and unsafe, especially if an individual is having trouble with activities of daily living. In this case, assisted living communities can provide the helping hand that someone needs to safely maintain their independence and wellness.

At Astral at Franklin, our assisted living staff ensures that each resident has their needs met so they can focus on the things that matter most to them and their lifestyle. 

If you’re ready to learn more, we invite you to contact our team at Astral at Franklin to schedule your tour of our assisted living community in Franklin, Indiana.