Thousands of elderly people are injured each year due to accidents that occur within their own homes. Most of these accidents are caused by items they use on a daily basis. Among the more common types of accidents for the elderly is slipping and falling. So, what are some things that can be done in their home that will help lower the risk of these kinds of accidents?
One vital way of preventing accidents is to look around the home for potential tripping hazards. There are numerous items around a home that an elderly person could trip over. Any kinds of appliances that have an electrical cord have the potential to be a tripping hazard. Are there any cords stretching across a walkthrough area? If there is, the furniture might need to be arranged differently so that this does not happen. What condition are electrical cords in? Are they looking old or frayed? Are they running underneath rugs or carpeting? What about electrical cords attached to walls and baseboards etc. are they attached with staples or nails? Its good to consider these questions because they could all become hazardous to an elderly person and are a possible fire hazard.
A lot of older people like carpeting in their homes. Check the condition of carpets and rugs. Do rugs have a good rubber backing? This is extremely important as a rug can slide very easily. Does the carpeting have enough adhesive to keep it firmly in place? Again, a loose carpet or one that is starting to come up in places is a lethal tripping hazard.
While this has only been a few of the many areas that should be checked in an elderly person’s home, it’s an important step in making sure your aging loved ones are not at risk of injury in their own homes.
