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Tips for Senior Safety: How to Avoid Trip-and-Fall Hazards
- HHCS Staff
- May 1
- 3 min read
As we age, issues with mobility, balance, and eyesight can negatively impact our safety. This is especially true for slip-and-fall hazards. When you can’t realistically move to a more senior-friendly apartment or house, how can you reduce these dangerous conditions in your existing home?
Here are a few things you can do to help navigate more safely through your home, inside and out. If you’re a renter, let the landlord or property manager know if you can make major modifications or repairs yourself or if they’re legally responsible for making them for you. Homeowners might need permits for some major modifications.
How do you pay for them? That will vary widely. Some of these safety modifications range from small, lightweight, portable, and budget-friendly products to expensive permanent structural overhauls. Financial assistance programs, insurance coverage, or payment plans might be available, or you might have to pay 100% out-of-pocket.
Your entire home must be clutter-free and well lit. Let’s start with the outdoor space, including the front walkway, porch, and other areas near the front of the home. The steps should be up-to-code (including measurements), well-maintained, and have slip-resistant surfaces. The front door mat should also be slip-resistant.
Some homes might need major modifications like ramps if seniors can no longer safely use exterior staircases or small entrance steps.
If you have enough space in your entryway, use a shoe rack and place a small bench or chair for stability when removing shoes.
Throughout your home, avoid dim lighting in walkable areas and use motion-activated or traditional hallway nightlights close to bathrooms and bedrooms. Hardwood flooring is slippery. Make sure non-carpeted floors have area rugs or runners that are slip-resistant or are anchored with double-sided tape. If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, make sure it’s securely nailed down on the edges and doesn’t have any loose areas. Exposed cables and cords should be relocated to non-traffic areas or have approved electrical covers.
If you want to remain in a two-story home and can afford the expense of major modifications, you can install electric stair lifts to help you maneuver from floor to floor.
Furniture should have adequate space for wheelchair or walker access, but they are close enough to provide support when needed. Make sure they’re easy to get in and out of. Remove or relocate low, lightweight furniture, floor-standing artwork, or knick-knacks that can easily tip over. Also, make sure nothing is top-heavy.
Kitchens: Some kitchen flooring surfaces can be slippery. Place cushioned anti-fatigue mats with grippy bottom surfaces in front of the sinks and stoves. Avoid storing things on top of your fridge that can fall off and cause injuries.
Bathrooms: Grab bars, shower chairs, adjustable height handheld showerheads, built-in liquid shampoo and body wash dispensers, comfort height toilets, walk-in showers and tubs, and non-slip bathmats are just a few temporary and permanent things you can use to help avoid slip-and-fall accidents in the bathroom.
Bedrooms: Attach furniture risers if you just need a little support getting in and out of bed. If you have major mobility challenges, bed rails or transfer poles can help you.
Some exercises focus on improving and maintaining balance. Depending on your insurance coverage, you might qualify for free or low-cost classes to help you learn how to reduce the likelihood of slip and fall injuries.
And finally, Medicare/Medicaid might be able to help cover all or part of the cost for senior fall prevention resources. Here are some other resources that might help you:
Area Agencies on Aging:
Rebuilding Together:
Habitat for Humanity:
SilverSneakers:
CDC STEADI - Older Adult Fall Prevention:
National Council on Aging (NCOA):
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