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  • Falls Management Home Tips

    Fall Management Home Checklist


    General Living Space

    • Remove all small area rugs.
    • Tack down ends of large area rugs.
    • Remove excess furniture and clutter to keep passagewaysclear and maintain easy access for walkers, canes, Wheelchairs.
    • Make sure that phone lines and electrical cords are secured away from common pathways.
    • Put nightlights in bathrooms, stairs, hallways, bedrooms and other common pathways.
    • Place non-slip treads on uncarpeted stairs; make sure any carpeting on stairs is firmly attached.
    • Make sure handrails on staircases are secured, preferably on both sides. Stairs should be in good repair.
    • In winter, make sure stairs outside are free of ice and are well salted.

    Bedroom

    • Remove scatter rugs.
    • Have a lamp or light switch that you can easily reach without getting out of bed. Keep a flashlight near the bed.
    • Install a bed rail to use for support when transferring in and out of bed.
    • Keep a commode by the bed for night time use (if recommended).

    Bathroom

    • Put a rubber mat in the tub covering the entire length of the tub.  Remove when not in use.
    • Put rubber backed mats on the floor.
    • Have well located grab bars for support.
    • DO NOT USE TOWEL RACK OR SOAP DISHES FOR SUPPORT!
    • Use a bath chair or bath transfer bench (appropriate when indicated).
    • Use a hand held shower head to facilitate showering when seated.
    • Get a raised toilet seat with arms or toilet safety frame.
    • Ensure that a walker can get through the bathroom doors without  juggling. Wheels on walkers can be placed on inside of walker when possible

    Kitchen

    • Remove scatter rugs.
    • Make sure often used items, such as dishes, pots, pans, and food are easily accessible.
    • Kitchen may have to be reorganized.

    Personal

    • Wear ComfiHips® under your clothes during the day and sleep with them on during the night.
    • Review your medications with a physician to determine if there are any drugs that interfere with vision or balance.
    • Get yearly vision check-ups.
    • Wear proper, non-skid footwear
    • DO NOT walk around with only socks on.
    • DO NOT walk on wet surfaces unassisted.
    • Make sure trousers, nightgowns and housecoat are not too long to avoid tripping.
    • Make sure canes and walkers are in good condition and are the proper height.
    • DO NOT get up quickly after lying down or after eating.
    • For stairs: to go up - lead with good leg; to go down, lead with weaker leg.

    For chair transfers:

                                     (a) For sitting: back up until you feel the chair behind your knees and lower yourself

                                           by holding on to the chair arms.

                                     (b) For standing from a chair: push off with BOTH hands on the arm rests. Grab your

                                           walker with one hand at a time.

                                           DO NOT LEAN ON WALKER.

    Final personal Tips

    • Sit down when putting on ComfiHips® , underwear, trousers, socks or shoes.
    • Use long handled Reacher to pick things up from the floor.
    • Stay physically active to maintain strength and mobility.
    • Purchase a lifeline (Personal Response system).
    •  It is recommended to have a home safety evaluation by an Occupational Therapist to personalize safety issues based on fall risks within the home.

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  • Falls Mgmt Top 10 Check List

    Patient Fall Management Top 10 Checklist

    1. Do you utilize support rails when you get in and out of the tub or up from the toilet?
    Put grab bars inside the tub and next to the toilet, or utilize raised toilet seats.

    2.  Are your pathways through rooms, stairs, and hallways clear of clutter and other obstacles, such as extension cords or furniture?
    Always keep pathways clear and free of clutter or other trip hazards.

    3.  Is lighting throughout your house sufficient? 
    Put night-lights in so you can see where you’re walking after dark, and make sure light switches are within easy reach.

    4.  Are all carpeting, flooring, stair steps, and rugs evenly placed and securely adhered to the surface underneath?
    Make sure carpeting is firmly secured to all surfaces, floorboards/stairs aren’t loose, and rugs have a grip on the surface below them.

    5.  Do you utilize aids to daily living to accomplish daily falls risk tasks, such as using a reacher to access objects placed above a reachable height?
    Use aids to daily living to accomplish daily tasks that might otherwise require movement that can lead to falls.

    6.  Do you utilize equipment for daily exercise routines, such as cuff weights? 
    The CDC recommends the use of cuff weights to improve balance and gait.

    7.  Do you utilize commodes, as necessary, to avoid late night bathroom trips?
    Place commodes at bedside to avoid late night bathroom trips.

    8.  Do you utilize a high-low bed to limit impact if you were to roll out bed?
    Low height beds minimize the distance between the patient and the floor.

    9.  Do you utilize falls mats to limit impact if you were to roll out of bed? 
    Falls mats reduce impact in a fall scenario.

    10.  Do you utilize a patient lift if you or a resident of your home is partial or non-weight bearing?
    Use a patient lift for safe transfers.
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