One of the hottest topics to find its way into the Advantage Home Health Solutions Blog is the dangers associated with slips and falls. As we’ve pointed out on many occasions, slips and falls are especially prevalent among seniors, causing them to visit the hospital more than any other reason.
As Kas Roussy of CBC News reports, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) has found that unintentional falls were the most common form of injury across the country in 2017. This resulted in nearly 1,800 emergency-room visits each day. “In all, falling was responsible for 32 per cent of all reported ER visits that year, the agency says, costing the health-care system more than $2 billion,” writes Roussy.
What can you do to make your home a trip-free zone?
Scour your entire house.
If you live with an elderly loved one, you can’t afford not to. Make sure each and every room is free of tripping hazards. It takes a little bit more effort than simply picking things up off the floor and tucking away loose wires. Of course, removing obstacles like clothes, toys, tools and just about anything else will help to make hallways and staircases safer. However, it’s important to remove some other tripping hazards that are commonly kept on the floor.
Throw rugs belong in this category. While they are often considered decorative additions to rooms, they can bunch up and cause people to trip. “Remove or secure all throw rugs to the floor to prevent your loved one’s feet from getting caught up,” advises Griswold Home Care, “Clear all pathways of clutter and make sure that all cords are secured and out of the way.”
Clear the stairs.
Pay extra special attention to your staircases. Naturally, they’re used to travel up and down from one level of your home to another. And, of course, a trip down the stairs is one of the most dangerous possibilities for any member of your household. Make no mistake – such falls can lead to death for seniors. Make sure your stairs are completely clear of all debris.
“Pay especially close attention to hallways and stairs, making sure that they are clear of clutter and debris,” reiterates Griswold Home Care, “Stairways should have sturdy, securely attached handrails on both sides and safety treads attached to every step. If any steps are loose or in disrepair, be sure to have them fixed as soon as possible.”
Install a stair lift.
If you’d like to guarantee the elderly loved one in your home never trips down the stairs, installing a stair lift is the way to go. A stair lift, which is also known as a stair chair or chair lift, is a motorized chair that makes it safe and easy to access multiple floors in your home. It completely eliminates the need to deal with steps.
Stair lifts can be made to work with straight or curved staircases and can be adapted to suit your specific needs so you can continue your daily living routine and stay in your home longer. For more information about the stair lifts offered by Advantage Home Health Solutions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 403-460-5438. You may also email us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
