Get a copy of this guide to have on hand while you help make yours and your loved one’s homes a little safer this winter.
Download your copy of the Winter Home Hazards Checklist here.
As the days get colder and darker, the chance of falls increases. According to the NHS, around 1 in 3 adults over 65 will fall each year, a figure which rises to 1 in 2 for those over 80. The result of these falls can have a dramatic impact on a person’s life, potentially increasing their risk for further falls and injury in the future.
There are many things that can increase a person’s risk of falling, including (but not limited to):
• Balance/mobility issues
• Neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia
• Mental health issues (due to potential medications and lifestyle choices)
• Visual impairment
• Going through a transition, whether that’s due to bereavement, a house move, or a move from/to home, hospital, or a care home
So, why do we fall? Here are some of the top five reasons behind why people fall at home
Falling isn’t just one of those things that has to happen as we get older though. There are things that you can do to help mitigate yours or a loved one’s risk of falling at home. Our Winter Home Hazard Checklist contains tips and advice from our team of Occupational Therapists to help reduce the risk of falls this winter. You can either use to the assess your own risk or the help assess the risk of a parent or the person you’re caring for and make any necessary changes.
1: Are the walkways clear of tripping hazards?
Removing clutter from their walkways is an easy win in reducing their falling risk.
2: Do they use mobility equipment?
Mobility aids are a great support to help someone get around more easily, but if the environment isn’t set up correctly, they could quickly become an inadvertent hazard.
3: Is there adequate lighting?
It sounds obvious but being able to see clearly where they’re going is really important.
4: Are they getting up regularly?
Keeping mobile is important in helping them to reduce their risk of falls.
5: Are the up to date with their eyesight checks?
Poor vision will make it more likely that they’ll miss potential obstacles in their path. We should all be getting our eyes tested at least once every two years.
6: Have they been having regular falls?
Regular falls could be a sign of an undiagnosed medical condition or an issue with their medication.
How they get out of a chair to go into another room or how they make a cup of tea could help you to see where they’re struggling to do certain tasks.
7: Are they finding it difficult standing while carrying out tasks?
An inability to stand for long periods of time could leave them liable to fall when trying to go about their daily routine.
8: Are they concerned about dropping things when carrying them from one room to another?
If they’re feeling unsteady on their feet, then carrying things from one room to another may feel like a daunting task.
9: Are they getting up in the night?
Tiredness and poor lighting could increase their risk of falling.
10: Are they worried about falling when walking around the house/garden?
General anxieties around falling can be hard to overcome, but there are things that can help.
If you’re concerned about a loved one falling, encourage them to speak with their GP who can offer advice and check them over to make sure that they’re doing well.
Alternatively, if you would like extra support in helping to identify ways to help your loved one remain independent and in their own home for longer, book a Home Living Consultation with one of our Occupational Therapists. You can find out more about our Home Living Consultation Service here.
Get a copy of this guide to have on hand while you help make yours and your loved one’s homes a little safer this winter.
Download your copy of the Winter Home Hazards Checklist here.
By signing up you consent to us using your email address in accordance with our privacy policy.