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Senior Citizen Homes & Communities
With Senior Citizen Deaths from Falls Increasing an
Expert Suggests Home Modifications
 November 20, 2006 Deadly falls for senior
citizens both men and women increased by more than 55 percent from
1993 to 2003, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. This, and updated figures clearly establish
falling as the leading cause of injury deaths among people 65 and older.
Fengyi Kuo, assistant professor of occupational therapy at the
University of Indianapolis, says the solution to this problem at home is
safety awareness and implementation of relatively simple changes to make
the homes of older people more fall-proof.
"Fall death rates have increased faster than fall
injury rates. In large part, this is because people are living longer,
and many of our seniors now are older and frailer. They need our help to
prevent potentially fatal fall injuries," said Dr. Judy Stevens, an
epidemiologist in CDC's Injury Center and author of the report.
Kuo identifies four of the main safety hazards that
can lead to falls and injuries in the home: poor lighting, loose carpets
and throw rugs, baths without handles and poorly arranged furniture.
Kuo suggests 10 quick fixes to increase home
safety:
1.
Increase lighting in the home, particularly along pathways to the
bathroom and on stairs.
2. Use nightlights, especially in bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms.
3. Remove throw rugs and loose carpet, or secure them firmly to the
floor.
4. Be cautious when walking on thick carpet.
5. Install handles or railings in bathtubs and showers to prevent
slipping.
6. Use non-slip or rubber mats or install non-slip strips on tub and
shower floors.
7. Take your time when getting into or out of bathtubs and showers.
8. Arrange furniture so there is plenty of room to walk freely.
9. Remove electrical cords from walkways by placing them under rugs or
furniture or stapling them along walls and baseboards.
10. Keep phones in every room of the house and by the bed and keep
emergency numbers by each phone.
Editor's Notes:
The University of Indianapolis is a top-tier,
independent, comprehensive institution of higher education with more
than 4,300 students on its main campus, and another 600 at its wholly
owned branch in Athens, Greece. Strong undergraduate, masters and
doctoral programs, especially in business, education and the nationally
ranked health sciences, draw students from around the world.
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