Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room

Key findings used in wiki

• Room-by-room hazard fixes: secure handrails on both sides of stairs, good lighting with switches at both ends of stairs/halls, motion-activated lights, no clutter on floors or stairs, no throw rugs, no-slip strips on hard floors, no walking on freshly washed floors.
• Bathroom-specific: grab bars near the toilet and inside/outside the tub or shower, nonskid mats or strips on wet surfaces, a night light.
• Bedroom-specific: night lights and switches within reach of the bed, a flashlight and a charged phone near the bed.
• If a fall has already happened, NIA recommends asking a doctor about a home safety visit from an occupational therapist, physical therapist, or nurse — home modification advice belongs with a trained evaluator, not guesswork.
• State and local Area Agency on Aging programs (via Eldercare Locator, 800-677-1116) may help fund or perform home modifications.