Fall Hazards in Your Home: How to Recognise and Avoid Them

7 May 2019

In an ideal world, the elderly would live in one-storey houses, with no-rise entries, and completely free of stairs. Because we know that's not always an option, we've come up with this short guide that includes some of the most common causes of falls in the elderly, and suggestions for how you can quickly, easily and cost-efficiently minimise these risks.

You don't have to leave the home you've so lovingly built, move all of your furniture around, or start using only the ground floor of your house to implement these changes. Below is a list of some of the most common fall hazards in your home, followed by solutions for these problems, and suggestions for products that can help you turn these ideas into a reality in no time.

The Living Area

Many fall hazards are present in all areas of the home, including your living room, dining room, bedroom and hallways. These include loose rugs, clutter, messy extension cords, poor lighting, and even pets. If you've started noticing that your legs aren't as reliable as they used to be, or that you tend to bump into furniture more often than you'd like to admit, it's important to get rid of any tripping hazards on your floors, especially in narrow passages.

Our Solutions

Clutter-free floors are essential for preventing falls at home. This includes getting rid of all rugs, loose cables, or even unnecessary low pieces of furniture. Make sure your pathways are always clear of clutter, and the surfaces are never slippery.
Excellent lighting can greatly improve the way you move in the home. Invest in high-quality lighting in all rooms, but especially in the places where you tend to spend most of your time standing up, such as in the kitchen, or in the hallways and stairs.
Installing handrails can help you out in case you ever lose your footing. This Newel 90° Twist Grab Rail is ingeniously designed specifically for staircases, addressing a need for your safety when ascending or descending a spiral element of a staircase, or around the top or bottom end post.

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The Bathroom

Falls occur more frequently in the bathroom than they do in any other area of the house. This is due to the wet, slippery surfaces, as well as tripping hazards, such as high bathtub or shower edges. Moreover, the toilet seat is often positioned too low; lowering onto the seat is usually not a problem, but when it's time to get back up, the legs can give out, causing a fall.

Our Solutions

Handrails are a great idea for any area of the house, but are absolutely crucial in the bathroom. You should install at least one rail in the shower or bathtub, and at least one next to the toilet. This Non-Slip Grab Rail is available in six different lengths, so you can easily find one that meets your needs.

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Anti-slip mats are essential for minimising the risk of slipping in the bathroom. You can easily prevent accidents by setting up mats inside the bathtub or shower, as well as in the area where you take your first step when getting our of the shower.
Installing a shower seat can greatly improve the quality of your life. While sitting down when bathing is relaxing for most people, it is an absolute must for the elderly.

Lowering all the way to the bottom of the tub, however is not only uncomfortable, but often physically challenging as well. To solve this very common problem, we stock a broad range of Shower Seats in various dimensions, styles and designs.

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The Kitchen

As we age, our manual dexterity decreases, but the kitchen still needs to remain a place that brings you joy, not frustration. To avoid mindlessly digging for missing items, dropping plates and bumping into unpractical cupboards, it's important you take the steps to ensure easy access to all of the essential items in the pantry. This may include changing to an open shelving design, investing in glass cabinet doors for a clearer overview, or roll-out trays for easier access.

Our Solutions

Easy-to-use kitchen gadgets can make your day-to-day activities a lot easier. Our top suggestions include a Universal Kettle Tipper, the Culinare One Touch Can Opener, and a Good Grips Chopper for effortless chopping.

Outside the Home

Just as it is important to avoid falls inside, it's also important to stay safe outside. Cracked pathways and uneven surfaces present the biggest challenge you may face outside your house.

Our Solutions

Repave and reconstruct your pathways if possible.
Create a no-rise entrance by installing a ramp. The Fibreglass Threshold Ramp is perfect for the majority of wooden or UPVC door frames, allowing the door to open and close while the ramp is in position. Moreover, this ramp is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

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Make Sure You Can Always Call for Help If Needed!

If you live alone, it's essential to have a backup ready just in case something goes wrong. The AmpliDECT 295 SOS PRO Telephone comes complete with an SOS pendant, which can dial your emergency contact at the touch of a button. This simple device is also small enough to be carried around the home completely unnoticed, and always stay with you "just in case".