In my job as an occupational therapist, I can’t tell you how many people I’ve worked with who’ve fallen at home.

They’re too numerous to count! In the rehab world, we traditionally have our “busy season” in the winter (Hello, ice!), but falls happen frequently year-round.

The thing is most falls at home are totally preventable!

I see falls devastating person after person, family after family. In the chaos and whirlwind of the hospital and rehab, people and their families often don’t know how to stop another fall from happening!

Instead of constantly worrying about your family, let’s take some action towards stopping falls before they even start! Here are the top three places at home to make changes for safe and independent living.

1) Put handrails on the steps of the main entrance. 

The main entrance is the door you usually use to enter and leave your home. For some people, it’s the door from the garage. For others, it’s the front door or side door. At my home, we primarily use the back door.

Most homes have steps at the main entry, and those steps need handrails! Two handrails, one on each side of the steps, give you something to easily hold onto when you’re going up and down the steps.

Bonus tip: make sure the handrail extends past the base and the top of the steps by 6-12 inches to hold onto for steadiness. This will make sure you don’t lean too far forward or backward with your hand on the rail.

 Handrails will give your family member more confidence in entering and leaving the home. This is incredibly important in case of emergency too!

Who knows, if Mom feels more secure with the steps maybe she’ll want to get out of the house more often?

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2) Grab bars in the shower.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the most likely time to fall at home is while you’re stepping out of the shower (CDC, 2011).

Don’t let Mom and Dad become a statistic! Install a grab bar at the shower entry and one grab bar inside the shower to hold onto while getting in and out. 

 And I’m not talking about suction-cup grab bars or towel racks. Those things pop off the wall and go down to the floor in the clutched grip of your elderly parent!

 You need to install the real deal-- grab bars that require a drill and screws! This will provide the security your parent needs to stay safe while getting in and out of the shower. 

 Grab bars work for any shower wall material, even acrylic or fiberglass. Anchor weights make it possible to install grab bars with no studs behind the shower wall. This allows you to choose the best place on the wall to put in a grab bar for Mom and Dad. 

I highly recommend involving an occupational therapist to consult with you on where to put the grab bars in the shower since every person has different needs. What works for Mom might not necessarily work well for Dad.

An occupational therapist can find the best solution to help everyone be safe in the shower!

In addition to safety, grab bars come in a plethora of colors, finishes, and lengths! It’s easy to match grab bars with the bathroom aesthetic. You can even find grab bars that serve double duty as a toilet paper holder or shower shelf!

3) Make it safer to get in and out of bed.

Install a motion-sensor night light next to the bed to automatically turn on when getting up at night. AND put motion-sensors along the pathway to the bathroom.

No stumbling around with outstretched arms in the dark! No fumbling for a light switch!

Put a bed rail on to help with balance when sitting up on the edge of the bed. Bed rails come in shorter lengths, like 15 to 24 inches, which makes it easier to swing legs over the side. Some brands even have pockets to store cell phones or tissue!

Lessen the number of sheets and blankets on the bed to avoid tangled legs. If Mom or Dad tends to feel cold, wearing long sleeves and pants and using one thick blanket should make them feel warm and toasty at night.

Conclusion

These simple changes to the main entry, shower, and bed will help your Mom and Dad live safely and independently in their home.

If you want some extra help in making the best changes at home, please contact me or hire an occupational therapist near you! I’m happy to answer any questions!

What changes have you made to your home? Tell us down below! You may help out a stranger! Make sure to share this article with a friend who’s taking care of Mom and Dad at home!

(Psssssttt . . . Hey, did you know we have an awesome online course for people who have a hard time wiping after using the toilet? It’s an awkward topic that you can learn how to solve in the comfort and privacy of your own home! Learn more about the course HERE!)