For millions of aging adults living at home, the possibility of a debilitating accident or fall at home is never a welcome proposition. Yet, falls are the leading cause of injury to adults over 65. Luckily, there are many simple ways to make your home safer for you or an aging loved one.
Hear from Leah Fuchs, MD, and our extended team at SCL Health about the importance of preventing falls.
Here is a home improvement checklist for aging adults:
Grab bars
Install grab bars anywhere there’s a potential to slip and fall. Namely, in your bathroom by the toilet and the bathtub.
Non-slip mats
A simple non-slip mat or sticker on your shower floor and other wet surfaces makes a big difference.
Transfer bench
Utilize a transfer bench to get in and out of the tub from a seated position.
Shower chair
A shower chair lets you stay seated as you shower, reducing your slip-and-fall risk.
Raised toilet seat
A taller toilet or toilet seat add-on can make it more comfortable to get up and sit down.
Elevated storage
Store your most commonly used items at eye-level and easy-to-reach shelves, rather than up high or low.
Make it bright
Higher wattage light bulbs make for brighter rooms that are easier to navigate.
Night lights
Low-cost night lights can be added all over the house, including stairways and slick surfaces.
Smart home technology
Choose from various smart home gadgets that can help with daily reminders, activity tracking, emergency alerts, and other everyday personal assistance.
