Preventing household slips and falls for seniors.

Injuries from slips and falls can threaten the overall health and independence of seniors. Seniors with arthritis, osteoporosis, and mobility issues are at a greater risk for slipping and falling. It’s a sad, but one in five seniors who suffer a hip fracture will die within a year. Hip fractures also account for over 300,000 annual hospitalizations.

The important thing to remember, beyond the obvious caring for your loved one, is that medical insurance benefits and coverage gets worse as you get older. A simple slip and fall when you're 40 years old may result in a sprained ankle and one visit to the emergency room. When you're 85, it gets a little more complicated. You could end up in the hospital for weeks with a broken hip, then when you get out, not be able to care for yourself. Now you're looking at a spending the rest of your life in a nursing home at $4000 per month.

That simple slip and fall could end up costing a family hundreds of thousands of dollars. That's why I think spending a few hours fixing a few $10 problems around the house could save your financial future. Here are a few tips on how you can prevent slips and falls around your home, or the home of a senior loved one:

In The Bathroom:

Install bathroom grab bars by the toilet, shower and tub. Avoid the "suction cup" grab bars if at all possible. They may hold really well when you first install them, but they will eventually weaken and that's when they give you a false sense of security.

If possible, invest in a pair of non-slip slippers or shoes. Wear them in the bathroom when you get ready in the morning. Some of these shoes are even rated for use in oily and soapy conditions. Try a restaurant supply store if you have problems finding a good pair.

Showering can be very slippery and those with "soft water" may have an especially slippery shower, so use a shower chair. You can buy one at just about any pharmacy or durable medical supply store.

If you are prone to falling, put those anti-skid bath mats in your shower. They can also be used on your floor in front of your sink for extra non-slip security.

Those little stickers that install on the bottom of your bathtub or shower are a very inexpensive way to prevent a fall in the shower too.

If you do spill something in the bathroom, throw a towel on it quickly to prevent it from spreading all over the bathroom - that would increase the "slippery area" and make the clean-up even more dangerous.

In The Kitchen:

Prevention is the key in the kitchen - always clean-up slipped liquids as soon as possible.

Never use a chair or other unstable step to reach things on the upper shelves. If needed, invest in a very sturdy step-stool with a very high handle so you can hold onto the handle as you climb the steps. Also, one of those handy reaching devices will keep your feet planted firmly on the floor.

Put all of your more commonly used kitchen items in the shelves and cabinets that are easiest to reach. Put the items you only use occasionally in the lowest or highest locations in your kitchen. If needed, you can always store some of these less commonly used items in your bedroom closet or hallway closet.

Keep kitchen drawers and cabinets closed so you don't bump into them as you work in the kitchen.

For kitchen rugs, always use the lowest profile (so you don't trip) and the most non-skid backing you can find - especially for the any rug that sits in front of the sink

Use quick-drying cleaning agents on the floor and avoid waxes and polishes if you can.

In The Living Room:

Doing obvious things like clearing the clutter off the carpet and rugs like newspapers, books, shoes, any trash or other objects.

Fix any issues with the flooring like bumps and ridges in the carpeting or loose boards on hardwood floors.

Remove any cords that may cause a fall. Look for loose extension cords, telephone cables, cords from curtains or blinds, and electrical cables.

Remove area rugs - especially the loose ones that don't have a rubberized or non-slip backing, or ones that have been placed on slippery surfaces like glossy bathroom tile or flooring.

Inspect areas where there are changes in flooring - like where the carpet meets the wood floor or around doorways that have a threshold separating rooms. Make sure everything is secure and that the changes are as low as possible. Replace if necessary.

Remove any furniture that is too low and may cause an uwanted fall.

In The Bedroom:

More of the same common sense tactics here, too - keep the clutter off the floor as much as possible and keep your drawers closed.

Many seniors will become light-headed or dizzy when they stand up. Make a habit of sepnding a few moments in a seated position before standing up first thing in the morning.

Avoid putting on shoes with shoelaces (for obvious reasons).

When the phone rings, don't rush to answer it. It's probably a telemarketer anyway. You'll look pretty foolish sitting in the hospital because you were rushing to answer a call from the Ginsu Knife people.

Make sure your mobility aids are in perfect working condition. Replacing your cane, your walker, or other support costs a lot less than even a few hours in the hospital.

Considering adding lighting to hallways and stairs in your home where the lighting is poor. If you can see better in a hall way with a flashlight, it's time to get an electrician to install some good lighting.

When It’s Slippery Outside:

Pay attention when you're near irrigation watering systems or after a storm for slippery conditions on walkways and sidewalks.

Hire a local neighborhood kid to shovel your driveway and walkways after a snow storm. Make sure you have ice melting supplies (like rock salt) handy well before the weather turns cold.

Again, invest in a good pair of slip-resistant shoes when walking around outside. Encountering a slippery surface can happen without warning, especially in shopping areas, restaurants, and even hospitals.

Always use the handralings when going up and down the steps - either inside or outside. If you don't have a free hand, then consider making two trips up and down the stairs.

Other Tips on Preventing Slips and Falls:

Fear of falling in the bathroom is the number one reason seniors move into a nursing home. It is expensive, so think about using mobility devices and other gadgets to make sure you don't fall. Remember, the cost of these items is a mere fraction of the month cost of a nursing home. So look at bath lifts, stair lifts, and chair lifts to help.

make sure your medications are taken regularly. A mistake taking medications can cause dizziness and confusion, or even cause one to faint. If you are having problems with light-headedness, then ask your doctor if your medications are causing it.

For added peace of mind, make sure your senior loved one can get professional medical help as soon as they can in the event of an emergency. Check out the latest in Medical Alarm technology. Medical alarms are a quick link to an emergency operator and the monitoring service costs about $29 per month.

I hope this helps!

TJ