As reported on Forbes, the sad recent death of Senator Joe Lieberman was attributed to complications from a fall. The Centers for Disease Control says that falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries for older adults. “Falls among adults 65 and older are common, costly and preventable,” says the CDC.
And most of those falls, according to the National Institutes of Health, occur in the home.
From the article: “Using data from emergency room visits, NIH ranked the spaces where the greatest number of home falls occur for 65 and older adults, (noting that they differ by age and sex). Other areas only hit single digits.”
- Bedrooms (25% Overall)
- Stairs (22.9% Overall)
- Bathrooms (22.7% Overall).
Preventing falls involves a combination of personal strength and balance training, plus installing safety features in the home itself.
The article helpfully quotes a number of professionals who help older adults age safely at home.
Occupational therapist Sydney Marshman recommends strategies “that simultaneously address multiple risks including medications, physical fitness, environmental modifications, and routine wellness screenings. In my opinion, this truly demonstrates the importance of professionals working in tandem to prevent falls.”
Ryan Herd, founder and CEO of Caregiver Smart Solutions, notes the development of smart home technology that can “alert a designated family caregiver to potential issues and in-home accidents. Sensors are placed around the home to monitor movements and activities, identifying unusual patterns that could indicate a fall or the risk of falling.” This is definitely a fast-growing trend, as we have reported here.
But it’s not all high-tech. “Regularly check the home for trip hazards like loose rugs, carpet runners, clutter and electric cords,” Herd advised.
He also notes the advantages of automated lighting, particularly “in risk areas like stairs, hallways and bathrooms.” Circadian lighting, which automates light from dawn to dusk to “simulate daylight changes,” has been shown to reduce falls by more than 30%.
Architect Doug Walter, who helped create the Certified Aging in Place designation offered through the National Association of Home Builders, offered important advice on reducing falls in the bedroom, bathroom and on stairways.
In the bedroom: eliminate throw rugs, maximize lighting and minimize glare, finish surfaces in contrasting colors.
On stairways: maximize lighting, use contrasting colors, use ramped or zero-step entries.
In the bathroom: use non-slip tiles, use horizontal and vertical assist bars, use shower benches and handheld shower heads, use strong lighting.
There are more tips and further details on some of those tips in the article, so be sure to read the whole piece.
Also note the final observation, from the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative: ““Fewer than 4% of US homes offered the three key features of accessible housing—single-floor living, no-step entries, and wide hallways and doorways.”
Fortunately, we can do something about it. Remember, Autonomy — and that means living independently and safely — is one of the 7A’s of SuperAging. The topic demands careful, and ongoing, attention; you can rely on us to keep bringing you the latest information and ideas.