Fall Prevention at Home for Older Adults
Fall Prevention at Home for Older Adults
Short answer: Preventing falls at home requires clearing walkways, improving lighting, and reviewing medications. You can protect your loved one by making simple room-by-room fixes and hiring an aide for safe transfers.
- More than one in four older adults falls every year.
- Annual eye exams and medication reviews lower physical fall risks.
- Removing throw rugs and adding grab bars prevent common household slips.
- People with Parkinson’s or recovering from a stroke face higher fall risks.
- A home care aide provides hands-on help with walking and transferring.
Why Fall Prevention Matters for Older Adults
According to the CDC, more than one out of four older people falls each year. These incidents are not just minor bumps. They lead to about 4.5 million emergency department visits annually across the country. CDC.
Nearly 319,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures each year.
Health Steps to Reduce Fall Risk
The CDC recommends that older adults get an eye exam at least once a year. Update glasses as needed.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist to review all of your loved one’s medicines. Some prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs cause sleepiness or dizziness. Tell the doctor about any side effects you notice. The doctor decides whether any change is needed.
Encourage daily exercises that build leg strength and improve balance. Simple activities keep muscles engaged and joints flexible. When your loved one stands up from a bed or chair, they should get up slowly.
Proper footwear is another physical health step. Your loved one should wear sturdy shoes inside and outside the house. Avoid letting them go barefoot or wear loose slippers.
Certain chronic medical conditions make falls more likely. People living with Parkinson’s disease often experience postural instability, which causes balance problems. They may experience freezing in place, especially when starting a step, turning, or walking through doorways. They might also take short, rapid steps that raise their fall risk. Parkinson’s Foundation. If your loved one needs Parkinson’s support at home, extra supervision may help. They may have trouble turning over in bed or getting out of a deep chair.
A stroke can affect balance and strength. If you notice sudden trouble walking, sudden loss of balance, or sudden weakness in the face, arm, or leg, call an ambulance immediately. Use the BE FAST method to check for signs. Do not drive the person to the hospital. CDC.
If you need help keeping a relative safe at home, New Century Home Care can assist. Call 215-974-0000 or fill out our contact form and choose “I am a client” then “I need services.” Our office staff speaks English, Russian, and Ukrainian.
Home Fixes by Area: A Room-by-Room Checklist
You can make the house significantly safer by following the CDC home fall prevention checklist. Evaluate each room to remove common hazards. Add brighter, even lighting throughout the house to help older adults see obstacles. You should also keep emergency numbers in large print near each phone.
Place at least one phone near the floor in case of an accident. Consider getting a personal alarm device for falls. You can learn more about general home safety basics to protect your family member. Review the table below for specific changes you can make in each room.
| Area of the Home | Safety Fixes and Adjustments |
|---|---|
| Floors and Walkways | Clear paths around all furniture. Remove throw rugs entirely, or secure them with double-sided tape or non-slip backing. Keep objects like books, shoes, and boxes off the floor. Coil or tape electrical cords next to the wall so they do not cross walkways. |
| Stairs and Steps | Keep all objects off the stairs. Fix loose or uneven steps immediately. Install lights at the top and bottom with switches at both ends. You can use glow switches so they are easy to find in the dark. Use contrasting paint on step edges. Ensure handrails are on both sides, run the full length of the stairs, and are tightly secured. |
| Kitchen | Keep often-used items on lower shelves at about waist level. This prevents your loved one from reaching too high or bending too low. Use a steady step stool with a holding bar for high items. Never use a chair as a step stool. |
| Bathrooms | Place a non-slip mat or self-stick strips in the tub or shower. Install grab bars inside the tub, next to the tub, and next to the toilet. |
| Bedrooms | Place a lamp within easy reach of the bed. Plug in a night-light on the path from the bed to the bathroom to guide them during the night. |
If you are modifying the bathroom, review our detailed tips for safe bathing practices.
What to Do After a Fall
If your loved one falls, stay calm. Panic can make the situation worse and cause them to move too quickly. Ask them to remain still for a moment. Check them for injuries before trying to move them.
If they are injured, bleeding, or you are unsure about their condition, call 911 immediately. Do not force them to stand up if they feel severe pain in their hips, legs, or back. Wait for emergency responders to arrive and assess the situation.
Even if they seem fine and get up without pain, tell their doctor about the fall. The doctor can check for causes, including medication side effects. The doctor may want to examine them or adjust their prescriptions.
How a Home Care Aide Helps with Fall Prevention
Family members cannot always be there 24 hours a day to watch a loved one. A professional caregiver provides hands-on help to keep your relative safe. Under Pennsylvania law, personal care services include assistance with ambulation and transfer activities. This means an aide is trained to help someone move safely.
An aide will help your loved one safely move in and out of bed, chairs, or the shower. They provide mobility assistance by walking alongside them and steadying them. If your loved one needs to use the bathroom during the night, the aide can guide them safely.
Caregivers also handle incidental homemaker tasks. They wash dishes, change linens, and tidy up the living areas. This keeps walkways clear of clutter, directly reducing trip hazards. They ensure that cords are tucked away and that the home environment remains organized.
If your loved one is returning home from the hospital, post-surgery support adds supervision while they heal. An aide watches them for safety and alerts you to any changes in their physical abilities.
New Century Home Care provides non-medical personal care across Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties. Call us at 215-974-0000 to discuss your needs. You can also contact us online by selecting “I am a client” and “I need services.”
Frequently asked questions
What are the common causes of frequent falls in elderly people?
Frequent falls often result from a combination of physical and environmental factors. Poor vision, loss of balance, and leg weakness are common physical causes. Certain medications can cause dizziness or sleepiness. Environmental hazards like throw rugs, poor lighting, and cluttered walkways also increase fall risks.
How can I make my home fall-proof for elderly people?
You can reduce risks by clearing walkways and removing throw rugs. Install grab bars in the bathroom and ensure handrails on stairs are secure. Improve lighting throughout the house and place often-used kitchen items at waist level. Ensure your loved one wears supportive shoes indoors.
Non-medical home care in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties. Medicaid CHC (Keystone First), VA programs and private pay. We speak English, Russian and Ukrainian.
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