Environment

An unsafe home environment is a leading cause of falls – over half happen at home.  Everyday surroundings can one day contribute to serious injury.  These potential hazards include:

• Slippery floors, loose area or throw rugs
• Dark or dim lighting that makes it difficult to see
• Stairs without railings or loose carpeting on steps
• Bathtubs, showers and toilets without grab bars
• Clutter than can be hard to walk around and easy to trip over (for example, stacks of newspapers and magazines)
• Hard to reach items in high locations (the top shelf of a cabinet)
• Electrical or phone cords

Outdoors

Just outside the home are also a number of things to watch for:

• Slippery sidewalks, walkways, driveways from ice or snow
• Wearing shoes or boots with little or no traction
• Entrances, walkways and garages with poor lighting
• Walkways that have become uneven with age (like those made of brick)

Resources

1. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
   • Check for Safety – a Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults (pdf)
   • What You Can Do to Prevent Falls (pdf)
2. AgePage, National Institute on Aging
   Includes the free booklet, Exercise and Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from the National Institute on Aging, and additional resources and organizations
3. NIH Senior Health
4. Fall Prevention Center of Excellence