Falls can cause injuries that take a long time to heal and, in some cases, create life-long complications and severely reduce ones quality of life. If you have a loved one who has a high risk for falls, here are a few things you can do to help.
- Lighting: Increase lighting throughout the house, especially at the top and bottom of stairs. Ensure that lighting is readily available when getting up in the middle of the night.
- Stairs: Make sure there are two secure rails on all stairs.
- Bathrooms: Install grab bars in the tub/shower and near the toilet. Make sure they’re installed where your older loved one would actually use them. For even greater safety, consider using a shower chair and hand-held shower.