Preventing falls at home: a room by room checklist

A fall can change everything, and the effects go well beyond any injury. Confidence drops, people move about less, and doing less makes the next fall more likely. The encouraging part is that many of the risks around the home are simple and inexpensive to reduce.

Start with the things that affect every room. Good lighting and clear floors do more than almost anything else.

Stairs are the single most common place for a serious fall. It is worth being thorough here.

Wet, hard surfaces and awkward movements make bathrooms a high risk room. Grab rails must be properly fixed into the wall, as a towel rail or basin will not take a person's weight.

The aim in the kitchen is to remove any reason to climb, stretch or rush.

Getting up in the night is a common moment for falls, particularly when someone is half awake.

Some risks are not about the house at all. Poor vision, dizziness on standing, unsteadiness and certain combinations of medication all raise the chances of a fall. If any of those sound familiar, a GP or pharmacist review is well worth arranging. Regular gentle activity also helps, because strength and balance improve with use.

If someone has already had a fall, feels unsteady, or has become anxious about moving around alone, home care can reduce the risk considerably. Support with washing and dressing, help getting about safely and overnight care all make a difference.

Every Britz Healthcare care plan begins with a free home safety and risk assessment, which covers exactly the points above. Call 01302 870 161 to arrange one.