Seniors
Prevent Falls with Inexpensive Home Modifications
By
Jul 7, 2015 - 8:52:10 AM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Boston, MA - Most falls are preventable. But every year, more than two million people wind up in the hospital because of these accidents, which are a leading cause of injury and even death among older adults, according to the July 2015 Harvard Health Letter.

"Anything that might trip a person is going to increase the risk of a fall. People with a balance disorder are often unable to recover when they trip because they lack the agility and coordination to do so," says Dr. Steven Rauch, a hearing and balance expert at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

Simple home modifications can help reduce the risk of falling. In fact, research has shown that inexpensive fixes at home can help reduce fall-related injuries by about 25%.

Modifications that make a difference include

• removing floor clutter and throw rugs
• rearranging the furniture to improve the flow of foot traffic
• installing handrails along indoor and outdoor staircases
• installing grab bars near showers, bathtubs, and toilets
• improving lighting in hallways, stairways, and outdoor walkways
• installing night lights to illuminate the way to the bathroom at night
• adding nonslip mats and treads to bathroom floors, outside decks, and outside steps.

These home modifications are generally inexpensive, ranging in price from a bit of elbow grease to a few hundred dollars.

Read the full-length article: "Low-cost or no-cost home modifications to avoid falls"

Also in the July 2015 Harvard Health Letter:

• The benefits of going meat-free
• What to expect during cognition screening
• How much fluid does it take to stay hydrated?

The Harvard Health Letter is available from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, for $20 per year. Subscribe at www.health.harvard.edu/health or by calling 877-649-9457 (toll-free).

xxx

For advertising/promo please call Mike McCurdy at: 877-634-9180 or email [email protected]