How to Prevent Falls in Your Home

Falling is a big deal. Anybody of any age, especially elderly people, can seriously injure themselves from falling. Having bones broken or being impaled by something can seriously alter a person's life forever, or at least cause a major disruption in a person's life. There are many things that you can do to prevent this from happening.

Be Neat

Don't leave stuff lying around on the floor where people walk. This is a pretty obvious way to avoid falls, but many people do not adhere to this simple idea. Do not leave objects on the stairs, especially. Keep the floors clean and clear so that there is nothing to slip on.

Put Treads Down on the Floor

Sometimes, even if a floor is clear of material items, the surface, itself is very slippery and can cause a person to fall. In such situations, you should invest in putting treads on surfaces. Treads make surfaces rougher, so that the friction between your feet and the floor keeps you from slipping.

Handrails and grab bars.

Having rails and bars to grab onto can be a lifesaver. If you have a staircase in your home, it's not a bad idea to install railings for those who want to grab onto something as they walk down the stairs. You can also install railings and bars in other parts of your home, such as the bathroom.

Think About Your Clothing

Loose clothing can cause you to slip and fall. Make sure that your clothes are not getting in the way when you are walking around your home. If the hems of your pants or skirts are touching the floor and getting under your feet, it may be time to take the hems up.

Lights

Put lights in places where you walk that are dark. This can especially be helpful because you do not want to walk down a hallway and fall down a flight of stairs that you did not see.

Be Mindful of Where You Walk

Watch where you are walking, and do not rush. When people rush, awkward things that should not happen end up happening. Even if you take all of the precautions to avoid falling, you may still fall if you do not pay attention to where you are going.

Irregularities and Inconsistencies.

Look for things that are broken or not quite right in your home. For example, is the carpet torn or uneven? Your foot may get stuck in it. Is the stool that you use to reach high places rickety and move around? If you already use a light to see where you are going, is that light burned out?

Tom James,