As kids, we’d often fall and spring right back up. As we age, however, falls can be far more serious. In fact, falls for seniors over age 65 are the leading cause of hip fractures, brain injury, and death from injury.
“People who survive a stroke generally do better [in recovery] than people who survive a fall,” says Dr. Susan Stark, an occupational therapist at Washington University who practices in neurology and social work. After meeting older adults who struggled to maintain their independence, Stark began researching ways to help. She co-authored a three-year study from Wash. U. about ways to remove home hazards for seniors. There are primarily two mechanisms that can prevent falls: exercise and home modifications. The former has a “dismal adherence rate,” she says, while the latter are more promising. The study found that among 300 participants, home modifications contributed to a 38 percent reduction in senior falls. While specific modifications vary, Stark shared a list of common ways to decrease the chance of a fall.
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1. Insert a toilet seat to raise the height of toilets.
2. Add grab bars to toilets, showers, stairways, and places where a fall is probable.
3. Attach grab bars to beds.
4. Put non-skid material on floors, especially shower floors.
5. Use a set of night lights to illuminate the floor from bedroom to bathroom.
6. Invest in an armed highchair or barstool to rest while cooking.
7. Have glasses checked every year and resolve cataracts. Avoid walking down stairs while wearing bifocals.
8. Ask doctors if all medications are necessary, and ensure the medications are at lowest risks for falls.
9. Remember: There’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. For each senior, you must take a close look at their circumstances and consider “a mix of [the individual], their environments, and their behaviors.”
More resources to learn about preventing falls for seniors:
1. Independent Living Center of Mid-Missouri
3. Paraquad
