The Dangers of Falling at Home and Ways To Prevent It

Three million people over the age of 65 go to the emergency room every year for fall injuries, and about one million of those occur at home, with 20% of cases resulting in serious injuries such as broken bones or head trauma. Unfortunately, less than half of people who fall at home even tell their doctor, meaning these injuries can go undiagnosed and untreated for extended periods of time.

Falling is scary no matter what, but falling at home, the place you feel most safe and secure, can be devastating mentally as well as physically. Luckily, there are steps you can take to actively avoid falls, make your home as safe as possible and give you access to immediate help should a fall ever occur.

June is National Home Safety Month, an annual campaign created by the Home Safety Council meant to educate and motivate families to take actions that will increase the safety of their homes. For seniors who are at risk of falling or have fallen before, Seniors Helping Seniors® recommends they follow these tips from the National Institute on Aging:

1. Place handrails on both sides of the stairs, and make sure they are tightly fastened. If you must carry something while going up or down the stairs, hold it with one hand and use the handrail with the other so you can clearly see the steps.
2. Ensure there is adequate lighting throughout the home, especially around high-risk areas like stairs, doorways, and bathrooms. Replace bulbs frequently and install new lighting fixtures if needed.
3. Tidy up. Do not leave clutter, laundry, trash or shoes on the floor as these are easy to forget and trip over.
4. Avoid using throw rugs, mats and small area rugs that are not securely fastened to the ground.
5. Place nightlights throughout the home and keep a flashlight on the nightstand in the event you need to get up in the middle of the night.
6. Especially if you live alone, invest in a medical alarm system such as a bracelet, necklace, or phone app to alert 911 immediately in the event of a fall emergency.

Seniors Helping Seniors® offices provide a variety of services to support seniors so that they are able to maintain their independence and enjoy life not just in their homes, but also in their neighborhoods. These services include companionship, light housekeeping, cooking, and shopping support, assistance with personal care, dementia care, pet care, and medication reminders.

Your home should be a safe haven. We are there to provide peace of mind and high quality, compassionate care to seniors in the comfort of their own home.

For the in-home senior care brand, it all comes down to The Power of Love® and providing compassionate care that makes seniors feel seen, heard, and independent while providing purpose and passion for its senior caregivers.

Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home services is a leading provider for Senior In Home Care services in Chicago. We make life a little easier for you or a loved one by providing services in the home that include: companionship, light housekeeping, cooking, gardening, transportation assistance, Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, assistance with daily errands, activities, and more. Our senior home care services allow elderly adults the opportunity to continue living an independent life in their own home without the need to move.

To start services call or text Seniors Helping Seniors® Chicago Metro at 312-526-3666 or visit our website  at www.SeniorCareChicagoMetro.com to learn more about us.