A big fall risk is at a seemingly safe place: the home. Older adults can experience a fall for many reasons, including several environmental factors, according to our resident RN Sharon Roth Maguire.

1. Are You At Risk of Falling
In Your Home?

2. A big fall risk is at a seemingly safe place: the home. Older adults
can experience a fall for many reasons, including several
environmental factors, according to our resident RN Sharon Roth
Maguire. She says fall risks can come from the home environment,
both the inside and the outside, along with the individual’s
characteristics like physical well-being, strength and mobility and
even medications.

3. Home
Things such as lighting,
furniture and throw rugs in the
home can cause falls. Maguire
says that as we age, our vision is
somewhat compromised and
we have a greater need for
light. When there isn’t
adequate light in your pathway,
use night lights and motion-sensor
lights. Glare can also be
an issue. You can experience
exaggerated glare when going
from your dark home to the
bright sunshine outside.

4. Furniture
If furniture isn’t helping you, it can produce a fall risk. If you
don’t have a sturdy chair with firm arm rests, it can lead to a fall
risk. Throw pillows and other loose furniture can fall to the floor
and cause you to trip or fall. The corner of a throw rug can turn
and catch your foot.

5. Clutter
This makes a path very difficult to navigate. With too much
clutter on your way, such as clothes or even garbage, walking
from the living room to the kitchen can be a disaster. Cleaning up
clutter and keeping an open path can keep you safe in the home.

6. Outdoor paths
There can be difficult cracks or obstacles in your sidewalk or
stairs just outside the home. Make sure to have someone help
you move around these cracks when leaving your home.
Correcting and possibly repairing the concrete can keep you safe.
Your physical environment can contribute to your fall risk,
Maguire says.

7. Are you aware of risk factors in your home or in that of a loved
one? At BrightStar Care, we have specially-trained CNAs who are
trained to identify key fall risk factors and even complete a home-safety
checklist at the beginning of care. Click here to learn more
about our efforts to “Focus on Falls” or contact our local team for
more information.

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