Fall Prevention in Oklahoma City

Among older adults who fall, over half receive care in the hospital.

Hospital stays can be expensive. That is why, this National Falls Prevention Month, we at Griswold Home Care for Oklahoma City North want to provide some information about falls. Such as risk factors and how to help fall-proof your home. Read on to learn more!

Risk Factors for Falls

Several factors may put you at a higher risk for a fall:

• Previous falls – falling once doubles your risk for falling again.
• Vision loss – those with vision loss have nearly double the risk of falls as those without vision impairment
• Hearing loss – if you suffer from hearing loss, you are about three times more likely to fall compared to those without hearing loss. However, if you wear a hearing aid, you can reduce your risk of falling by 50%.
• Lower body weakness – difficulty with walking and balance increases your fall risk.
• Certain medications – side effects that include dizziness and fatigue increase your risk of falling.
• Chronic conditions – conditions such as diabetes and arthritis can increase the risk of falls.
• Hazards in the home – clutter, poor lighting, and lack of supports such as grab bars. Home modifications can help address these and reduce fall risks in the home.

Preventing Falls in Your Home

There is a lot that you can do or modify in your home to help prevent and mitigate falls. Read on to learn more about what you can do in several common areas of your home.

Bedroom

• Move bedside tables closer
• Arrange the room so there is a direct path in/out to the bathroom
• Install night-lights
• Always keep a charged flashlight near your bed

Bathroom

• Install a shower chair
• Use tub-mounted grab bars and raised toilet seats with hand rails
• Use non-slip mats in the bathtub

Kitchen

• Store commonly used items on shelves that are easy for you to reach
• If you need to reach something really high, keep a sturdy stool nearby
• Get rid of throw rugs
• If necessary, use rugs with nonskid backing or add carpet tape around edges

Stairs

• Install handrails on both sides of steps, they should run the full length of the steps
• Mark the top and bottom steps for better visibility with bright contrasting tape/paint
• Keep stairwells lit and check light bulbs regularly
• Install light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs

Outside

• Install handrails for all steps
• If necessary, add a ramp with handrails
• Ensure proper lighting on your porch
• Consider fixing uneven sidewalks

Griswold Can Help

At Griswold Home Care for Oklahoma City North, our non-medical Caregivers can help with fall prevention and recovery support. They can make recovery at home safer, more comfortable, and less overwhelming by providing companionship, emotional support, help with daily routines, personal care, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, and more.

Our Caregivers can provide respite care if you need a short break, all the way up to 24-hour home care, for those who need support throughout the day and night. We provide home care services throughout North Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills, The Village, and the surrounding areas. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can best help you. We can put together a personalized care plan and often have a Caregiver to your home within 24 hours.