Home » Health & Wellness  » Alternative healing » A little planning can go a long way to prevent falls

• Remove small loose rugs lying around the rooms or make sure they have a non-slip rubber backing
• Decrease general clutter, especially magazine racks, waste baskets or any other low lying pieces of furniture that may fall below your parent's field of vision
• Make sure that all cables are properly fixed into channels and there are no trailing cables
• Install grab bars in the bathrooms and stair handrails. Make sure the rails are adjusted to a suitable height. Please remember as you age you also grow shorter or tend to stoop. As far as possible, rails should have a smooth finish.
• Get the carpenter to raise your parent's bed and favourite chair so they find it easier to get in and out of it. Introduce your parents to the idea of leaving a cane next to his/her chair for added support.
• Add some more lights. Older eyes need three times more lighting and often take longer to adjust to lighting changes. Consider installing night lights in corridors, especially those leading to the bathroom. Install an easily manageable lamp next to her bed so your mother isn't fumbling around in the dark looking for light. Also install zero watt lamps in the bathroom that will burn all night.
• Install rubber matting. Baths and showers are equally risky spots, which cause falls: Install rubber matting in the bath area as well as non-slip mats on the floor.
• If there are small pets in the house, fasten a small bell to the collar so that the elders don't trip over the pets.
• Buy a sturdy stool (with handle and rubber tips) for reaching higher cupboards.

Have you thought of . . .? Shoes, medication, glasses, exercise...you might be surprised how all of these, or lack thereof, can contribute to a fall.
Here are some recommendations for:

Proper footwear
Avoid heeled chappals or shoes. Check if the sole of the footwear is not very worn out and slippery.Opt for slip-on shoes or shoes with velcro.

Medications
Get a professional to review all drugs and identify any potential negative interactions and side effects. Limit or avoid alcohol use.

Vision
Our sight can decline by as much as 80% by the time we are 90 years old. Encourage the elder person at home to have regular eye exams and then to wear any glasses that may be prescribed. If glasses are prescribed, consider fixing them to a chain so they can be worn around the neck when not needed.

Exercise
Regular physical activity and exercise is one of the most effective means of protecting an elderly person from injury due to falls as it keeps the muscles and joints flexible and mobile. Consult a geriatrician who would be able to advise you on the type of exercise that are normally recommended.

By taking some of these precautionary measures, you and the elderly at home can prevent falls and find peace of mind, too.