I recently traveled to visit my mother for the Thanksgiving holiday, and I noticed some things in her home that could be improved for her safety. When we live in the same space for a long time it is easy to get used to how things are and not realize they need fixing.
As soon as I walked in the door, I almost slipped on the entrance way throw rug. It went right out from under me, and I had to grab onto the wall to keep from going down. My mother argued that while she has seen lots of her friends slip, she has never had an issue with it!
I suggested we get some tape to secure it to the floor so that her friends would not have to worry about it. Of course, we both knew she was at risk as well, but it was easier to talk about other people’s needs than her own.
This is when she shared that she had bought carpet tape months ago but simply had not installed it. I made sure to do that for her right away.
In my career I have done many home visits and observed similar safety issues that the homeowners were not noticing. One time there was a large coffee table that was a trip hazard. The couple that lived there insisted that it had been in the same spot for 30 years and they were so used to going around it that it was not causing any issues.
Soon, however, I noticed the husband, who now had limited mobility and dementia, hit the side of his leg on the table. It caused him to stumble and catch himself in the next room.
I reflected this observation back to the wife who finally agreed to replace the coffee table with something smaller.
We get used to our homes, attached to the way things are arranged, and might miss opportunities to make them safer. As we age it is normal for there to be eyesight and mobility changes that may mean we need to re-examine our space for fall risks. It is better to make the changes for prevention than wait until there is an injury.
Adjusting our space to our needs is part of how we can age in place and maintain our independence.
Many people resist making changes because it makes them feel they are getting older or weaker. But the truth is that being able to adapt is a sign of strength and forward thinking.
Walk through your home as an outsider might. Look at things through this lens of safety and fall prevention. If you are visiting loved ones do the same for them.
Look for things that may be a trip hazard. Look for handrails on stairs and grab bars in bathrooms. Check that there is adequate lighting in stairwells and at night to get to the bathroom.
Remove furniture that is not needed and consider rearranging items that you use more frequently to more accessible drawers and cabinets.
If you or your loved one has fallen, you can talk to the doctor about a home healthcare order where a physical therapist can come and assess your home and provide recommendations.
Sometimes a fresh set of eyes can see things differently and alert you to easy ways to reduce your fall risk.
Martha Shapiro can be reached at Senior Concerns at 805-497-0189 or by email at mshapiro@seniorconcerns.org.
