About 28% of seniors in Cook County fall each year. Adults over 65 account for 37% of non-fatal fall hospitalizations in all of Illinois, and falls are the lead cause of traumatic brain injuries in older adults.
It’s common to act as though falling is just a normal part of getting older. Aging impacts mobility, vision frequently worsens as we age and many medications seniors take can impact balance. But many falls are preventable with the right preparation. Home fall prevention for seniors is especially achievable with the right knowledge and a little professional help.
Here’s where to start to have the highest impact.
Home Fall Prevention Resources for Seniors in Oak Park
The majority of adults would prefer to age in place; often, the biggest barrier is their home itself. By addressing the top causes of senior falls, you can help your loved one keep moving with confidence.
Start from the Outside In
Making it to the front door shouldn’t be a perilous journey for seniors, but windy weather blowing down branches as well as winter storms can turn front walkways into one big tripping hazard.
Remove leaves, branches and other debris promptly. Don’t let plants overgrow into the walkway, and treat cracks in the pavement, loose paving stones and other damage promptly. If you don’t have one already, add a railing and consider adding high-traction mats to steps. In the winter, make sure to salt ahead of winter storms and shovel before your loved one has the chance to give it a try.
It can be difficult enough to keep up with your own yard maintenance, let alone someone else’s, so we recommend having professional help on standby. Oak Park Landscaping is local. They offer both lawn care and snow removal from one trustworthy provider, so don’t need to worry about your loved one feeling trapped or trying to shovel themselves during Illinois winters.
Brighten Their Day (and Home)
It’s tough to avoid a tripping hazard you can’t see. Dimly-lit hallways and clutter at the edge of walkways are the culprits behind many senior falls. With impaired balance and low-light vision, falls are even more likely at night.
To combat this, first ensure your loved one has a light source they can turn on without leaving bed, like a nightstand lamp or a wall-mounted light with a remote. Then, install night lights or strip lighting between their bedroom and anywhere they may need to go in the night, like the bathroom or the kitchen for a glass of water. Make sure the night lights are as low to the ground as possible; you want to illuminate the floor, so they can see where they’re stepping.
If they don’t tend to enter the house through an attached garage, make sure to add lighting between their driveway and front door as well, preferably on a timer or sensor to ensure they don’t have to remember to turn it on.
Many homes don’t come equipped with outlets in hallways, and running extension cords would just add a tripping hazard. It’s worthwhile to call a local electrician to add new outlets or other lighting to prevent nighttime falls. MCL Electrical is especially well-known locally for their lighting. If anything goes awry, they have a 24-hour emergency service line that’s answered by licensed electricians rather than a call center.
Get Connected to Support
Illinois is serious about preventing falls for local seniors, and they’ve provided resources to help. The Illinois Falls Prevention Coalition represents a variety of organizations dedicated to keeping seniors on their feet.
Illinois offers workshops and classes to help seniors address their fall risk, and the Coalition can help them get connected (included to a combination fall prevention exercise and bingo class called “Bingocize!”). They also offer fall-prevention checklists in multiple languages; if you’ve covered the basics in this article, you can move on to some of the more advanced options on their lists. They can also help you evaluate assistive technologies that may be helpful in keeping your loved one moving with confidence.
Home Care Helps with Home Fall Prevention
With the right preparation, many falls can be prevented—and there are plenty of resources here in Oak Park to help. However, some seniors benefit from a little more hands-on support.
That’s where caregivers from FirstLight Home Care of Oak Park can help. They can help address fall risks in real time by tidyinging walkways, assisting with tasks like hygiene and dressing and providing a reliable shoulder to lean on.
Learn more about your care options and how we can provide support by giving us a call today.
