Skip the Slip: Here are Four Ways to Successfully Prevent Falls at Home!

Posted November 16, 2017

According to a 2011 survey conducted by Statistics Canada, 92% of Canadian seniors live in private homes instead of long-term care facilities. While this figure may seem high, it’s not hard to see why that would be the case! By living in private homes, seniors are able to maintain their independence and see loved ones on their own schedule.

However, having your elder loved ones live alone can also be a source of concern. What if they leave something cooking on the stove? What if they fall for a scam? What if they slip or fall?

We’re going to be focusing on that last part in this article. Did you know that 60% of all injury-related emergency room visits for senior citizens are caused by slips and falls? By following the tips below, you can reduce that statistic – all while keeping yourself and your loved ones injury-free!

It is extremely important to ensure the safety of your love ones who are living alone and independent. Due to the increasing popularity of home care assistance for seniors, it is vital to make sure that you can explain the importance of the potential hazards in the home to your loved ones living alone.

Remove Potential Obstacles

This is an easy one, but you’d be surprised how often it’s overlooked! Removing potential obstacles on the floor means there’ll be fewer things to trip over, which in turn means there’s less of a chance you’ll trip!

Now, when you think of “potential obstacles on the floor”, images of Lego bricks and dog toys may come to mind. While they should definitely be tidied up and taken off the floor too, there are a number of mundane obstacles that are just as – if not more – dangerous. Long extension cords and wires, unsecured mats, and even throw rugs can send you tumbling to the floor.

After you’re done reading this article, we suggest you tuck away your wires and secure your floor coverings to the ground with double-sided tape!

Clean, Clean, Clean!

This tip goes hand in hand with removing potential obstacles because the goal of both is to make your floor hazard-free. We’ve already discussed the importance of removing extraneous objects, but now we’re going to turn our attention to spills.

No one is a stranger to spills, be they water, cooking oil, cleaning supplies, or something else entirely. The key is to clean them up immediately after they occur. This prevents them from doing long-term damage to your floors, but more importantly, lets you deal with it before you have a chance to slip on it.

Consider the following scenario: You’re cooking in the kitchen and you accidentally knock over a bottle of oil. Even though you set the bottle upright again, a small pool of oil has formed on your floor. You can either clean it up right away, or you can carry on with your cooking and “get to it later”.

The problem with the second option is that humans aren’t always great at multitasking! By returning to your cooking despite the spill, you run the risk of absentmindedly stepping into the puddle a few minutes later. Beyond making a bigger mess, this could lead to a serious injury if you slip. That’s why cleaning the spill up immediately is the best course of action. It’s also the easiest, as the puddle hasn’t had time to spread or harden yet!

Use Mobility Aids

According to research done by Health in Aging, nearly 40% of older adults have trouble maintaining their balance while standing or walking. This is a troubling statistic, as balance issues are directly correlated to falls and can cause long-term health issues. Fortunately, however, there are mobility aids that can help improve your balance!

Safety Aid is excited to be running a sale on the Cane Aid, a compact and self-balancing walking aid. It has a triple tread, pivot-base that allows it to stand on its own, and can be folded up and tucked away when not in use. The handle also has a comfortable grip and a built-in flashlight!

If you already have a cane or walker, Safety Aid is also offering the Walker Aid, a flashlight that can be attached to a wide variety of canes, walkers, and scooters. By adding a light source on your mobility aid, you’ll be able to see your surroundings more clearly and avoid tripping on treacherous wires and mats! Like the Cane Aid, the Walker Aid is on sale for a short time only!

Keep Your Bathroom Safe

Bathroom safety means a lot more than just making sure the water isn’t too hot! It also means installing grip bars, replacing rugs, cleaning soap residue, and more. You can read all about how to improve your bathroom safety at the link below:

If you have any questions about the contents of this article or about Safety Aid, reach out to us at info@safetyaid.com, or by phone at (416) 876-1010!