Home Safety Tips!
Use light and assistive devices to keep you safe.
We continue our focus on fall prevention with some simple measures from reviewing your medications to increasing your daily physical activities. According to the Mayo Clinic, fear of falling doesn’t have to rule your life when you put together a plan that emphasizes prevention. Here is a list of ideas to get you started:
- Make an appointment with your doctor. Be prepared to ask and answer questions that could assist you in putting together a real and effective fall prevention plan. Discuss over-the-counter medications and how side effects might increase your risk of falling. If you have previously fallen, offer the details to your doctor since it might indicate a special medical condition. Inquire about a bone density scan to determine if you are at risk for breakage.
- Get moving. Staying active can actually help prevent a fall. Consult your doctor about considering activities such as walking or water workouts. A gentle exercise program is better than no program. A physical therapist can create a custom exercise workout aimed at improving your balance, flexibility, muscle strength and gait.
- Light up your living space. Keep your home brightly lit with night-lights in the bathroom, bedroom and hallways. Turn on the light before going up or down stairs. Place lamps in strategic places to illuminate dark corners.
- Remove home hazards. Take a look around your home and check for loose extension and phone cords, magazines stacked on the floor and newspapers. Evaluate your fall risk as you walk through your home. Use nonslip mats in your bathtub or shower.
- Use assistive devices. Communicate any unsteadiness to your doctor and ask about assistive devices for the home such as handrails for the stairways, grab bars for the shower or tub, elevated toilet seats and nonslip treads for bare-wood steps.
Whether you are a resident at Westminster Canterbury Richmond or caring for a senior in your own home, developing a fall prevention plan is an important and vital step towards better health and better living. For more information on Westminster Canterbury Richmond, please contact Brandon Lowe, Stewardship Coordinator, at 804.264.6066 or blowe@wcrichmond.org.