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The CDC stated that thousands of older Americans fall at home (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2015). The factors that contribute to the high rate of falls in older adults include muscle weakness, vision impairments, and chronic health conditions. Falls also often result from environmental hazards that are overlooked; however, these hazards can easily be addressed. Falls can happen at anytime and disaster situations are no exception. Falls may result in serious injury for older adults so it is important to include fall prevention as one component of disaster preparedness. As you scroll down, there are a list of safety tips, questions, and answers that address fall prevention and home safety.
The CDC stated that thousands of older Americans fall at home (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2015). The factors that contribute to the high rate of falls in older adults include muscle weakness, vision impairments, and chronic health conditions. Falls also often result from environmental hazards that are overlooked; however, these hazards can easily be addressed. Falls can happen at anytime and disaster situations are no exception. Falls may result in serious injury for older adults so it is important to include fall prevention as one component of disaster preparedness. As you scroll down, there are a list of safety tips, questions, and answers that address fall prevention and home safety.
List of Safety Tips
List of Safety Tips
Tip 1: Make your home safer
Tip 1: Make your home safer
- Check to make sure you have good lighting on stairways and in hallways
- Add night lights in necessary spots and make sure lights switches are easily accessible
- Keep things that are used often on lower shelves
- Keep the path from your bed to your bathroom well lit
- Inspect your house. Fix, remove, and repair items such as uneven flooring, unnecessary furniture, loose handrails and carpets
- Healthy home strategies to incorporate: air filters, clean furnace, and carbon dioxide detectors
- Wear sensible shoes that are well fitted, sturdy, and non-slip
Tip 2: Health (medications, exercise, vision exams, & medical exams)
Tip 2: Health (medications, exercise, vision exams, & medical exams)
- Have your doctor or pharmacist review your medications, including vitamins and herbal supplements
- Check your vision annually. If you wear glasses or contacts, make sure your prescriptions are up-to-date
- Doing regular exercises helps with endurance, balance, strength, and flexibility. Always consult with a doctor before starting any exercise program
Tip 3 : Assistive devices
Tip 3 : Assistive devices
- Using assistive devices can help OA move around comfortably and safely. Assistive devices include: single point canes, quad canes, wheelchairs, and walkers
- Assistive devices can support OA by improving balance while walking, providing support, and increasing confidence
- Speak to your doctor about what type of assistive device would be the best fit for
- Wear an alarm device that will send an alert in case you fall and can't get up
How to get yourself up after a fall
How to get yourself up after a fall
Fear of falling is very prominent in the OA population, especially those that find themselves alone or have family members who are far away. In case of an emergency if you find yourself down on the floor here are the necessary steps that can assist you in getting up. These steps should be practiced on the bed with supervision to prepare for when a fall occurs.
Bring your knees upwards
Reaching your dominant arm across your body to the opposite side
Put your hand down on the floor and push down through your hand while pulling the other elbow backward underneath you
Extend both arms and come over onto your knees
Crawl to a stable surface
Raise your strongest leg and push down for your hands in that leg and simply turn and sit down
When seated remain seated a few moments to make sure you're okay
How to get up from a fall.mp4Video on how to get up from a fall
Video on how to get up from a fall
Caregiver Tip: Assisting Older Adults up from the floor
Caregiver Tip: Assisting Older Adults up from the floor
Ensure the person that has fallen does not have any injuries
Call 911 if needed
Only attempt to help the person if you feel that both of you are able to safely work together otherwise call for assistance to help someone up from the floor they will need to get into a crawling position
If the person is on their back help them to bend their knees up
Assist them to reach across their body in the direction they want to go and roll over onto their side
Help by gently pushing at the hips and shoulder areas
Assist them to bring the top leg out in front of the bottom leg
Place your hand under the shoulder touching the floor
Allow the older adult to pull out the arm and rest on their hand
Move your hands to the hips and help lift them up and allowing the older adult to get onto their hands and knees
Guide the person in need to crawl close to a sturdy secure piece of furniture
Place their hands on the secure furniture
Help them to pull their knee forward and place their foot directly under the knee this should be done with the leg they feel is the strongest
Come around to the other side of the person and help lift them to stand by hooking one arm under their arm and placing your other hand on their back
Remind the person to lean forward while pushing up with a bent leg and both arms
Have the person stand for a moment to make sure they are steady and not dizzy slowly turn and sit
Assisting Older Adults Up from the Floor.mp4Video on how to assist someone up from the floor
Video on how to assist someone up from the floor
Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
When you walk through a room do you have to walk around furniture?
When you walk through a room do you have to walk around furniture?
Answer: Ask someone to move the furniture so that your path is clear
Answer: Ask someone to move the furniture so that your path is clear
Do you have to walk over or around wires, cords, and extension cords?
Do you have to walk over or around wires, cords, and extension cords?
Answer: Coil your wires and cords with tape next to the wall to avoid tripping over them. You may also want to have an electrician put in another outlet
Answer: Coil your wires and cords with tape next to the wall to avoid tripping over them. You may also want to have an electrician put in another outlet
Are there papers, books, shoes or other objects on the stairs?
Are there papers, books, shoes or other objects on the stairs?
Answer: Pick up the objects from the stairs, always keep objects off the stairs
Answer: Pick up the objects from the stairs, always keep objects off the stairs
Is the tub or shower floor slippery?
Is the tub or shower floor slippery?
Answer: Put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower
Answer: Put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower
Do you need support when you get in and out or the tub or when you stand up from the toilet?
Do you need support when you get in and out or the tub or when you stand up from the toilet?
Answer: Have a carpenter put grab bars inside the tub and next to the toilet
Answer: Have a carpenter put grab bars inside the tub and next to the toilet
Resources:
Resources:
CDC (2015) A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults. Center for Disease Control and Prevention https://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/5/c/1/5c11d66c4be978db/booklet_Eng_desktop-a.pdf?c_id=60290177&cs_id=60290177&destination_id=577520&expiration=1602561969&hwt=177fe650963a596909eab248dce8ad95
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