"Fall Prevention Is Something We All Can Do "
By Jill Evans, P.T., Rehabilatation Program Mananger
Salisbury Rehabilatation & Nursing Center

Safety is an important issue in every home. And it becomes increasingly more important with age. In-home trips and falls can cause serious injury. Did you know that, according to the American Occupational Therapy Association, falls are the leading cause of injury and accidental death in adults over the age of 65 years? Declining eyesight and hearing can decrease awareness of hazards and impaired coordination and balance can result in trips and falls. But new or unfamiliar surroundings, improper footwear, cumbersome furniture arrangements, and general distractions all can cause a person to accidentally stumble and fall.

Fortunately, you do not need to be a licensed physical therapist to help someone prevent falls from happening. Simple, inexpensive steps can be taken to reduce the likelihood of tripping or falling:

• Illuminate stairways and place light switches at both the top and bottom of stairs
• Make sure handrails are installed on both sides of stairways
• Keep hallways and stairwells clear of all clutter; do NOT use these areas for storage
• Install nightlights for late night trips to the kitchen or bathroom
• Do not use throw rugs; use only carpet that is tacked down
• Arrange furniture so that there are no obstacles to trip over
• In the bathroom, use grab bars on the walls and a non-skid mat or strips in the bathtub
• Wear shoes with non-skid soles
• Make sure all outdoor steps and walkways are kept in good repair
• Spread sand or salt on icy walkways
• Keep all cords for lamps, phones, extensions, etc. safely out of the flow of traffic and out from beneath furniture and carpeting

By implementing a few prevention practices, you can decrease a person’s risk of an unnecessary fall. If you have any questions about fall prevention or rehabilitation services, don’t hesitate to contact me at the center.