Have you ever worried about a loved one who is aging and losing their mobility to easily get around? Or, perhaps, worried about a friend who broke their leg and is now hobbling around on crutches? Part of the worry is that you’re afraid they might fall and hurt themselves, right?
The next time you’re worried about a loved one falling, why not offer to help him or her with fall-proofing their home. With just a few home adjustments, their chances of falling can be minimized.
- If your loved one uses a walker, you can stick tennis balls on the legs so that it glides more easily on the floor. This is especially helpful it the walker is too heavy for your loved one to easily use.
- Make sure there is enough lighting for your loved one to be able to see their walking path at night.
- Check handrails to make sure they’re sturdy.
- Make sure there are locations throughout the home where your loved one can set something they might be carrying that becomes too heavy.
- If your loved needs to have easy access to household items, you will want to make sure that these items are located in places and on shelves within easy reach.
- Are there any hazards in your loved one’s home that might cause them to trip or fall? Tuck any electrical cords out of the way, pick up any clutter that may be in their main walking path, and check rugs to make sure they’re secure on the floor so your loved one does not trip on the edges.
- Make sure that whoever cleans floors in your loved one’s home uses a nonskid floor wax.
These easy-to-fix adjustments will make all the difference in the world for someone who could be at risk of falling in their home.