Thames EMS - Avoiding Falls

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AVOIDING FALLS AT HOME

· Install safety devices in your bathroom, such as grab bars near the toilet and in the shower and bathtub. Use a non-slip mat when you shower or bathe to help avoid falls.

· If you don't have non-skid carpets, use double-sided tape or non-skid underpads under your rugs and mats to ensure they won't slide under your feet. Make sure stair rails and banisters are sturdy and attached properly to walls, so they won't come loose if you pull on them.

· Keep your floors tidy. Move or remove anything you might trip over, such as small pieces of furniture, electrical cords, handbags etc. When the grandchildren visit, have them keep their shoes and toys in a safe place.

· Make sure your home is well lit. Use night-lights, especially in areas that tend to be dark or where you might want to go during the night, such as bathrooms, stairwells or the kitchen.

· In the kitchen, laundry room or storage area, keep the items you use most often on the shelves you find easiest to reach. Avoid climbing on chairs or stools.

· Think about wearing pyjamas instead of long nightgowns or robes that might cause you to trip. For the same reason, beware of overlong skirts, dresses or pants. Avoid long shoelaces.

· Wear boots, shoes and slippers with soles made of rubber or other non-skid material.

BATHTUB AND SHOWER

Is the bathtub and/or shower floor surface a non-skid material, or do you use a non-skid mat when you bathe or shower?

Hints: When it gets wet, a bathroom surface made of porcelain or ceramic tile can be extremely slippery.

- Add adhesive strips or appliqués with a slightly abrasive surface to the bathtub or the floor or the shower stall.

- Alternatively, use a non-skid mat while you are in the tub or shower, and consider using another one on the bathroom floor to prevent you from slipping as you leave the bathtub.

Is the bathtub or shower area equipped with one or more grab bars?

Hints: Grab bars are designed to help you keep your balance, especially as you enter or leave the tub or shower.

If you have one or more grab bars already, make sure they are well installed and stable. Have them repaired if necessary.

Grab bars must be attached to studs or other structural supports in the wall. If you can't install a grab bar on the wall, you can look for one that attaches to the side of the bathtub. Remember that for safety, the installation must be done properly.

Is the hot water temperature set to no more than 120 degrees?

Hints: If your hot water heater is set to heat the tap water above 120 degrees, you are at risk for scalds. If there is no temperature setting on the water heater, let the hot water run at the tap for a minute, then fill a cup and use a thermometer to check the temperature.

- Change the setting on your hot water heater to "Low" or to 120 degrees. If you cannot tell how to accomplish this, or if the controls are not easily accessible, ask an electrician, plumber or other appropriate service person to adjust it for you. If your hot water temperature is controlled by the landlord, ask him or her to consider making the adjustment.

- Before you take a bath or shower, put your hand in the water to make sure it is not too hot.

- If your water temperature tends to change suddenly, such as if someone flushes a toilet, consider taking baths rather than showers as you are less likely to be scalded.

- Consider faucets and shower head systems with pressure regulating valves that will prevent sudden temperature changes.

LIGHTING

Is the bathroom light switch easily accessible?

Hints: If you have to walk into a dark bathroom to find the light, you may trip and fall.

- Install a "glow switch", one that has a tiny integrated light that can be seen easily in the dark.

- Plug a night light into the bathroom electrical outlet.

SMALL ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

Do you tend to leave the electric razor, hair dryer, curling iron, etc., plugged in even when you're not using them?

Hints: Even when it's not turned on, a small electrical appliance left connected to the outlet can be hazardous. You can be electrocuted if the appliance gets wet or falls into a sink or tub with water in it.

- Unplug all small appliances when you are finished with them.

- Do not retrieve an appliance that has fallen into water without double-checking that it is unplugged.

MEDICINE CHEST

Do you keep all medicines or medications stored in their original bottles or boxes, or if not, are they all clearly identified?

Hints: It can be easy to mix up medications that are not clearly and accurately labelled. For example, many different pills are round and white. If you don't keep medicines in their original containers along with all their instructions you can inadvertently take the wrong medicine, take it at the wrong time, or miss a dose - all of which can be dangerous.

- Make sure pill bottles and other containers for medicine are clearly labelled with the contents, patient's name, doctor's instructions, and expiration date. Remember that for some products, the expiration date is only marked on the outside packaging.

- If a medicine has expired, throw it away or give it to your pharmacist for safe disposal.

- Some medications are not meant to be stored in a humid spot, such as a bathroom medicine chest. Ask your pharmacist for advice.

Important: If your grandchildren visit frequently, remember that they may mistake pills or other items in your medicine chest for candy. If this is a concern in your home, ask for medicine containers with child-resistant caps, and make sure you close the caps properly every time you take a dose. If you have trouble opening child-resistant containers, ask for regular containers but be absolutely sure you store medicines beyond the reach of children.

AROUND THE BED

When you are sitting in bed, can you reach a lamp or light easily?

Hints: Having at least one lamp or light switch close to the bed can make it easier for a senior to get up and move around at night.

- Rearrange furniture or move lamps for easier access.

- Install night lights.

Is there a telephone close to the bed?

Hint: If you fall ill or have another problem at night, you need to be able to call someone. Make sure there is a telephone on the night table or within easy reach of the bed.

Do you keep smoking materials such as cigarettes, matches, and ash trays out of the bedroom or at least well away from the bed?

Hints: Smoking in bed is a common cause of fire, and burns from fires that start in bedding are a leading cause of death among seniors.

- Keep all smoking materials or heating items from the bed and bedding.

- Never smoke when you're in bed.

RUGS AND MATS

Could any of the rugs, runners or mats in the home bunch up or slip as someone walks on it?

Hints: Many seniors require emergency medical treatment after tripping over a loose rug or mat. When older people fall they can sustain serious or even life-threatening injuries.

- Remove any mat, runner or rug that could bunch up or slide underfoot.

- Replace the offending rug or mat with another one that has a slip-resistant backing. Alternatively, place rubber underpadding under the rug (you can buy a large piece and cut it to size) or attach the rug to the floor with heavy, double-sided tape.

- Every few weeks, check the backing or tape on all rugs and mats and replace if necessary. Slip-resistant backing and padding are less effective after a few washes. Tape can lose its stickiness as the adhesive wears away.

In case of an emergency, is the phone number for your Ambulance Service posted in a highly visible location near the telephone?

Hint: Emergency telephone numbers for police, fire and ambulance services - usually but not always 911 - and the local poison control center, should be programmed into the telephone, taped onto the receiver, or posted nearby. Have a neighbor's number handy, too.

Can you reach a telephone even if you fall or have another accident, feel ill or have a physical problem that prevents you from standing and walking?

Hint: It's a good seniors' safety measure to have more than one telephone, at least one of which is in a spot you can reach if you are unable to stand. Another option is to have a cordless phone or a hands-free telephone headset you can keep near you at all times.

Are there pieces of furniture, boxes, shoes, handbags or other tripping hazards in exits and hallways?

Hints: Furniture or even small items on the floor can obstruct your exit or cause you to trip, especially in an emergency situation.

- Move furniture so that it nothing blocks exits and traffic areas.

- Remove anything that is cluttering the floor where people often walk.

STAIRS

When verifying the safety of stairways used by seniors, check the quality of lighting, and the condition of handrails, steps and stair coverings.

Are the stairs well lit from bottom to top?

Hints: Even if you have been using the same stairs for years without incident, remember that seniors are more prone to falls. And ensuring there is adequate lighting is important for prevention. For safety, there should be enough light so that each step, and especially its edge, can be seen clearly. Be careful, though: the lighting should not cause glare or shadows that could be bothersome for the person going up or down the stairs.

- You should generally install the brightest bulb your light fixtures can use. But first, make sure that the bulbs you use are the right type and wattage for the light fixture. If you don't know what the maximum permitted bulb wattage is, use nothing more powerful than a 60-watt bulb.

Is there a light switch at both the bottom and the top of the stairs?

Hints: You should be able to turn on the stairway lighting from either end.

- Use night lights in outlets near the top and bottom of the stairs.

- Consider keeping a small but bright flashlight near the staircase, and use it every time you use the stairs so that it will always be where you need it.

Are the steps in good condition? If they are covered, is the covering in good shape, too?

Hints: Uneven treads, worn or loose carpeting on stairs, or protruding nails or other hardware can make for insecure or dangerous footing.

- If the stairs are carpeted, check that the carpet is well attached to each step. Use carpet tacks or a staple gun to re-attach loose spots and make sure they penetrate well into the carpeting. If repairs aren't possible, consider removing and/or replacing the carpeting.

- If there are worn treads, think about having the stairs refinished. If carpeting is very worn or torn, it should be removed and/or replaced.

- Exterior stairs should be painted with a rough finish or should have abrasive strips added to each tread.

- Keep your risk of falling on stairs to a minimum by wearing slippers and shoes with non-slip soles. Avoid wearing socks alone.

Do you tend to leave items on the stairs, or have you decorated them with vases, flowerpots, etc.?

Hint: It is very easy to trip over an object left on the stairs, particularly when you are in a hurry.

- Keep the stairway clear.