During the six years that my husband Ron lived with ALS, these were the words of his neurologist, Dr. Ravitz, at the conclusion of every visit. Falls are by far the most common cause of home injuries and deaths in older adults. Seniors are six times more likely to be treated at the emergency room for a fall than younger people. Falls typically occur on floors, stairs, steps and from beds. Other top hazards for seniors are fires, drowning, transportation, carbon monoxide poisoning and adult bed rails.
Older adults are 3.5 times more likely to die in fires than the general population. Smoking materials and cooking are two major fire sources. Cooking can often lead to a fire. A senior may put something on to cook and completely forget about it. Smoking in bed is another common cause of fire in the home.
Still, falls are the most common form of injury to a senior. Here are a few simple steps we can all take to make our homes safer, at any age.
Install handrails on both sides of any stairs in your home, keep stairs well-lit and free of clutter, and always use the handrails when using the stairs, keep floors cleared and slip resistant, REMOVE LOOSE CARPETS, CORDS AND OTHER ITEMS THAT CREATE A TRIPPING HAZZARD. BE SURE ALL RUGS, MATS AND OTHER SURFACES ARE NON-SKID. Install grab bars and slip-resistant surfaces in the bathroom, do not wear loose clothing while cooking (it can catch on fire), install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms and check batteries as suggested.
Every 11 seconds an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in older Americans. Make your home as fall proof as possible. Oh, one more thing for you dog owners. Get the toys OFF the floor!
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