Don't fall for me...

Every second, of every day, an older adult falls. Falls are the leading cause of injuries (both fatal and nonfatal) for older adults. As an elder-millennial – my mind can’t help but go to “help I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”. While not all falls are a LifeAlert© emergency, we want to do everything we can to avoid even minor falls. Falls, with or without injury, can alter someone’s quality of life or even make them more likely to experience another fall. Which makes taking steps to reduce the risk of a fall extremely important. This month, we are talking to Rachel Pierce, Public Health Sanitarian with CCHD’s Healthy Neighborhoods Program about ways to change someone’s home environment to make daily activities easier, reduce accidents (including falls), and support independent living.

Rachel, we often think of age as the only factor that can increase someone’s risk of a fall, but what else can play a roll?

You’re right, age is a factor that can increase someone’s risk of a fall, but there are many other conditions or diagnosis that can contribute too. Health conditions like arthritis, diabetes, or Parkinson’s can affect balance and coordination. Side effects from certain medications (like antidepressants and blood pressure medication) can also increase the risk of a fall. Another factor that we often forget is lifestyle. Having excess clutter, uneven floors, loose rugs, or poorly lit areas can create trip hazards in your home.

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any medications you take and what the common side effects are to help determine if you are at an increased risk for a fall.

Can you walk us through some common hazards and how to fix them?

Some of the most common hazards we see through the Healthy Neighborhoods Program (HNP) are cluttered walkways, poor lighting, loose rugs and mats, slippery floors, and uneven or broken steps.

1. Cluttered Walkways—Toys, shoes, cords, and other objects left on the floor create tripping hazards. Keep your floors clear of clutter, especially at the tops of stairs. Using storage baskets or bins to keep your things organized can help keep them off the floor where you may trip over them. Secure any cords or cables against a wall or tucked out of the way.
2. Poor Lighting—Dimly lit areas (especially staircases and hallways) make it harder to see obstacles. Use nightlights (which can be provided for FREE by HNP) to improve the lighting in areas where you’re more likely to have a fall.
3. Loose Rugs and Mats—Rugs that slide or curl at the edges are easy to trip over. Use non-slip rubber backing (another FREE item from HNP) to help them stay in place. Another fix, replace curled or worn rugs.
4. Slippery Floors—Wet or polished floors in bathrooms, kitchens, or entryways can cause slips. Put non-slip mats  down in bathrooms and near sinks. Clean up spills as soon as they happen and use rugs or absorbent mats to catch wet shoes when they come inside. Install bathtub treads (HNP FREE item alert) in your tub or shower.
5. Uneven or Broken Steps—Cracks, uneven heights, and missing handrails on stairs can all increase your risk of a fall. Repair broken or uneven steps. Install sturdy handrails on both sides of the stairs. Add anti-slip treads or reflective tape to each step for better visibility.

Is it true that you can become blind to hazards around your home if you have lived there for a long time?

100%. This is called habituation, when you’re so familiar with your surrounding that you stop noticing potential dangers. When you perform the same tasks in the same space every day, your brain will focus less on your surroundings and more on what you’re working on. This can cause you to miss something like a loose rug or uneven stair.

Being in your own home can sometimes create a false sense of safety. You automatically assume it’s a hazard-free space simply because it’s familiar. Over time, wear and tear—like fraying carpets, loose handrails, or dimming lights—happen slowly and are easy to overlook. You also might adjust your behavior to avoid hazards, like stepping over a curled rug corner, without even realizing the risk it might pose to others. Having an outside resource, like HNP, come to your home can help you to see some of the hazards you may have become “blind” to.

If you want to do a check yourself, or a family member volunteers to do it for you, Home Safe Home is a great safety checklist that will take you room through room and identify potential safety hazards that might occur in specific areas of your home.

So the Healthy Neighborhoods Program can schedule a visit, help someone find hazards in their home, come up with a solution to address it, and they might be able to actually give a person the safety product they need? All for free?

Yes! The program is grant funded through NYS and is available to all Clinton County residents, regardless of age, income, or ability. You do not need to own your home to participate. A member of the Healthy Neighborhoods team will meet with you in your home and go over a brief survey to identify potential safety risks or hazards, including those commonly linked to falls. Based on what we find, free safety products will be given to you to help correct these hazards.

How can someone get in touch with you to schedule a visit?

If you are tech savvy, you can click here and request a visit online. You can also call us at 518-565-4870 and schedule a visit over the phone.

Top 3 things to remember.

1. Falls can happen to anyone at any age.
2. You may be blind to hazards in your home, make sure to periodically check your home for hazards.
3. Make an appointment with the Healthy Neighborhoods Program today!