Environmental Hazards Prevention Tips It is useful to conduct a walk-through of your home to identify possible problems that may lead to falling. A home visit by an interior designer or occupational therapist might also be useful in that they are trained to identify risk factors and recommend appropriate actions. Outdoors * Repair cracks and abrupt edges of sidewalks and driveways. * Install handrails on stairs and steps. * Remove high doorway thresholds Trim shrubbery along the pathway to the home. * Keep walk areas clear of clutter, rocks and tools. * Keep walk areas clear of snow and ice. * Install adequate lighting by doorways and along walkways leading to doors. All Living Spaces * Use a change in color to denote changes in surface types or levels. * Secure rugs with nonskid tape as well as carpet edges. * Avoid throw rugs. * Remove oversized furniture and objects. * Have at least one phone extension in each level of the home and post. emergency numbers at each phone. * Add electrical outlets. * Reduce clutter. * Check lighting for adequate illumination and glare control. * Maintain nightlights or motion-sensitive lighting throughout home. * Use contrast in paint, furniture and carpet colors. * Install electronic emergency response system if needed. Bathrooms * Install grab bars on walls around the tub and beside the toilet, strong enough to hold your weight. * Add nonskid mats or appliques to bathtubs. * Mount liquid soap dispenser on the bathtub-wall. * Install a portable, hand-held shower head. * Add a padded bath or shower seat. * Install a raised toilet seat if needed. * Use nonskid mats or carpet on floor surfaces that may get wet. Kitchen * Keep commonly used items within easy reach. * Use a sturdy step stool when you need something from a high shelf. * Make sure appliance cords are out of the way. * Avoid using floor polish or wax in order to reduce slick surfaces. Living, Dining and Family Rooms * Keep electrical and telephone cords out of the way. * Arrange furniture so that you can easily move around it (especially low coffee tables). * Make sure chairs and couches are easy to get in and out of. * Remove caster wheels from furniture. * Use television remote control and cordless phone. Bedroom * Put in a bedside light with a switch that is easy to turn on and off (or a touch lamp). * Have a nightlight. * Locate telephone within reach of bed. * Adjust height of bed to make it easy to get in and out of. * Have a firm chair, with arms, to sit and dress. Stairways, Hallways and Pathways * Keep free of clutter * Make sure carpet is secured and get rid of throw rugs. * Install tightly fastened hand rails running the entire length and along both sides of stairs. * Handrails should be 34 inches high and have a diameter of about 1.5 inches. * Apply brightly colored tape to the face of the steps to make them more visible. * Optimal stair dimensions are 7.2 inch riser heights with either an 11 or 12 inch tread width. * Have adequate lighting in stairways, hallways and pathways, with light switches placed at each end.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 11:11:53 +0000
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