According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are one of the leading cause of injury and deaths among senior adults. There are many factors that contribute to someone falling. I want to highlight a few areas, that I commonly see in my 6 plus years providing senior safety and fall prevention education in an occupational therapy setting.
Wheelchair Safety: If you utilize a wheel chair(w/c) It is SUPER important to be educated on w/c safety. Here are a few important w/c safety things you need to know:
- Lock the brakes before getting out or into your w/c. The brakes are usually located to the sides of the wheelchair or just above the lower back wheels(usually found on travel wheelchairs)
- Lift or remove foot rests before getting in or out.
- When performing a sit-stand transfer, follow the sit-stand transfer procedure which is outlined below.
- Avoid placing large heavy bags or items on the back of the wheelchair as this may cause the w/c to tilt over when attempting to sit or stand.
Transfer Safety: Whether you are performing a chair, bed, toilet or wheelchair transfer, there is a right way to do it that will significantly decrease your risk of falls. When performing a sit-stand transfer using a Forward Wheel Walker (FWW). First, you must scoot your buttock forward towards the edge of the chair, bed etc. Next, place your hands on the chair (arm rest if present) then with nose over toes push up into a standing position, placing your hands onto the walker, shift your feet slightly to secure your balance..
Stand-sit: transfer: As you approach your chair, proceed to pivot turn slowly until your back is completely facing the chair. Next, take a few steps back(slowly) until you feel the chair behind you. Lastly, you must reach back placing your hand onto the chair (arm rest when available) and slowly lower yourself into a seated position. NOTE: ALWAYS Lock the wheel chair brakes or turn off the power button (Electric W/C) and adjust or lift foot rests if needed before transferring. For those seniors utilizing a FWW, make sure the walker remains In front of you at all times while performing a safe transfer. Avoid chairs with wheels and chairs that rock (i.e rocking chair).
Bathroom Safety: As an occupational therapy provider and a certified home modification-fall prevention specialist, one of the things I see often, is the overwhelming number of clients who have reported falling in their bathroom. There are some very important features that are a must have for senior adults:
- Grab bars
- shower chair/bench
- raised toilet
- non skid mat
- hand held shower.
Other things to be on the look out for are barriers, that could possibly pose a potential fall hazard. Hazards to look out for are the following:
- Shower chairs that are not slip resistant
- Bathtubs that are difficult to step into and out of.
- Sliding shower doors may move unexpectedly when entering and exiting the tub.
- Low toilets that would make toilet transfers difficult and increase your risk of having a fall.
Stair Safety: An area of concern that is often overlooked as it relates to senior safety. Slipping and low vision are two of the main causes of senior falls when walking up or down stairs. Some important stair safety tips that I think are important to mention:
- Always utilize the handrails.
- Make sure steps are in good repair.
- Check carpeting to make sure it is firmly attached along stairs.
- Remove any loose rugs at the top or bottom of stairways
- Use at least 60-watt bulbs in stairways and the on-off switches should be easily accessible.
As occupational therapy providers, we understand our senior adult clients wanting to remain in their home. A part of our job is to educate, our clients on safety and fall prevention. If you are a senior adult and you are discharged from a rehab or skill nursing facility, one thing to consider is having your home evaluated by a home modification specialist. There is a high hospital re-admission rate among senior adults. The reason for this, is because so often a client returns home to the same environment in which they fell.
A home modification specialist will go into the home, looking for barriers that could potentially cause you to fall and provide an evaluation and offer solutions. I hope that the tips I provided were helpful to you or your loved one. If you would like to learn more about senior safety and wellness, please visit me on social media The OT Strategist as I provide tons of information and education.
** The information provided in this article, are safety tips to decrease your risk of falls, they are not to replace the advice, education or POC provided by your occupational therapy provider. Please consult your occupational therapy provider if you have any safety concerns.
