Living Room
- Arrange furniture so that you have a clear pathway between rooms
- Secure all throw rugs with slip-resistant rubber backing
Stairs / Hallways
- Provide adequate lighting and consider motion lights
- Install handrails on both sides of stairways
- Clear clutter from stairs and walkways
Kitchen
- Store food, dishes and cooking equipment within reach
Bathrooms
- Install grab bars on the shower walls
If a fall happens, do not panic. Take several deep breaths, assess the situation and determine if you are hurt. If you can’t get up after bracing yourself on a wall or furniture, call a friend or relative for help.
Facts about Falls
- Each year, one in four adults age 65 and older falls, according to the CDC.
- According to the National Hospital Discharge Survey, more than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling. Three-quarters of all hip fractures occur in women.
- Falls result in more than 2.8 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including over 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 27,000 deaths.
- In 2014, the total cost of fall injuries was $31 billion.
- According to the National Council on Aging, the financial toll for older adult falls is expected to increase as the population ages and may reach $67.7 billion by 2020.
Source: https://www.orthoinfo.org