Falls are the leading cause of injury in many older adults and luckily there are ways you can modify your home to decrease the risk of injury in your home. Here is a list of six ways you can make your home safer by spending a small amount of money.
- Handrails – installing handrails along staircases and hallways can help maintain balance.
- Grab Bars – these are installed in showers and near toilets to prevent falls
- Improved Lighting – these can be installed anywhere in the home to improve visibility. These lights cost about $10 each and can be installed quickly.
- Non-slip mats – these can be placed in the bathroom, kitchen or anywhere in the house where floors are uneven or slippery. These mats are very cheap and easy to lay out
- Step and Floor Repair – Simple repairs of broken floors, stairs, or carpeting can decrease the risk of injury and are very low cost depending on what needs to be repaired.
- Simple cleaning – removing cords that one could trip on, piles of clothes or simply cleaning the floors every once in a while could significantly decrease your risk.