HOME SAFETYCarrie Wright OTR/L

•Home is a personal and precious environment

•Most effective to change the environment than to change most behaviors

• Ensure safety for the aging adult and peace of mind for caregiver

Definition of a fall:

A fall is an unintentional loss of balance causing a person to make unexpected contact with the ground or floor

Fall Risk Factors• Intrinsic: medical, vision,

hearing, vestibular, muscle strength

• Extrinsic: medication, environment, footwear, assistive devices

Fall Risk Factors• Modifiable Factors: extrinsic

factors and some intrinsic factors (muscle strength)

• Non-modifiable Factors: age, gender, race

It is our job to increase a persons awareness that their strength, balance, etc. is less then it was before. Many older adults do not consider some of the activities they do as being safe, as they have “ always done it”.

Fall Prevention• Exercise regularly

• Medication review

• Have vision checked regularly

• Appropriate shoe wear

The Entrance• Steps to be textured

• Mark the edges of steps with bright or reflective tape

• Adequate lighting

The Entrance• Widen treads and shorten

risers

• Sturdy railings on both sides

• Ramp

Living Room• Place decals at eye level on sliding

glass doors, picture windows or furniture with glass

• Adequate lighting

• Keep remote controls out of sight

• Clear pathways and remove clutter

Living Room• Place reflector tape on

furniture corners

• Keyed locks on windows

• Childproof plugs in outlets

• Decorate with solid colors vs. patterns

Bedroom• Picture of purpose of the room

• Monitoring device

• Remove scatter rugs

• Night light

Bedroom• Install reverse locks or take door

locks off

• Clock by bed with sun and moon symbols

• Remove clutter and clear pathways

• Childproof plugs in outlets

Bedroom• Remove pictures of people

• Contrasting colors for flooring and bedding

• Bed transfer handles or modify the height of bed

Bathroom• Put sign on door on purpose of

the room

• Remove lock from door

• Use contrasting colors

• Set water heater to 120 degrees

Bathroom• Insert drain traps

• Lock up electrical items and medicine

• Single faucets

• Use adaptive equipment

Bathroom• Use adequate lighting and night

light

• ADL checklists on laminated cards

• Use clear shower curtain

• Bath mat with non skid bottom

Kitchen• Childproof locks on cabinets

• Remove scatter rugs

• Safety knobs or automatic shut-off switch for the stove

• Keep items at waist level

Kitchen• Adequate lighting

• Disconnect garbage disposals

• Remove decorative food

• Insert drain trap in kitchen sink

Kitchen• Childproof plugs in outlets

• Label drawers with words or pictures of the content

• Remove outdated and/or spoiled food

• Step stool with bar to hold onto

Stairs and Doorways• Install barriers or gates at steps

• Adequate lighting

• Place additional locks high up on a door

• Put solid black mat in front of doors

Stairs and Doorways• Put up poster with

seasonal scene on bedroom door as reminder of type of clothing to wear

• Put up stop sign on door

Stairs and Doorways

• Mark edges of steps with bright or reflective tape

• Install door alarms

• Hand rails on both sides

General Safety• Medical alert button• Lock up all potentially

dangerous items• Phone with direct dialing for

emergency and/or photos of who is being called

• Smoke alarms

Home safety needs to be re-evaluated periodically as a persons behaviors and abilities change

Questions?????

Thank you