Fall Precautions Every Senior Should Take
Falls are a leading cause of serious injury for senior citizens. Proactively applying an ounce of fall precautions is far better than taking a pound of pills after a fall occurs. Each of the following are tried and trusted methods that go a long way towards reducing the risk of a slip and fall at home.
- Declutter the Home. Removing clutter including extra furniture, boxes, plant stands, etc. does more than create a more open floor plan; it removes objects that are easily tripped over.
- Install Non-Slip Flooring. Bathrooms and kitchens are common places for slip and fall accidents. Investing in non-slip flooring within these rooms is one of the most effective fall precautions you can take.
- Buy New Shoes. Seniors should not wear high-heels or open-toed shoes such as sandals and flip flops. These don’t usually have reliable traction and they can easily catch on stairs, door jams, patios, etc. which can cause a fall. Well-fitting shoes with laces or velcro straps provide the greatest degree of stability when walking.
- Invest in a Walker or a Wheelchair. One of the easiest fall precautions is to minimize walking as much as possible. Walkers and wheelchairs can help seniors maintain their mobility while significantly reducing fall risk.
- Be Prepared. If you live alone, make sure you have a cell phone or emergency alarm on you at all times. This ensures that if you, or your loved one falls, help can be contacted quickly.
- Move Onto One Floor. If you live in a multi-level home, move onto one floor in the home where you can cook, bathe, and sleep. This reduces trips up and down stairs where many slip and fall accidents occur.
- Pay for Snow/Ice Removal. It’s easy to slip and fall on sidewalks and driveways around Boulder in the winter months. Rather than risk an accident that can break a hip or fracture an arm, pay the neighbor’s kids to shovel the walk and de-ice the driveway.
- Pay Attention to Medications. Some medications can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Always know the side-effects of all prescription and over-the-counter medications and minimize activity after taking drugs that can increase the risk of a fall.
For more about fall precautions and slip and fall accidents in Boulder, contact Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. at (303) 447-1144. It’s our pleasure to answer your questions and offer advice you can use to protect your health and safety.
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