tips \ Preventing falls

Interim HealthCare, a company that provides home care for the elderly, offers these tips to prevent falls:

If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, make sure it is secure and flat, without bunched-up wrinkles or raised areas.

Fix poor lighting and add night lights for trips to the bathroom.

In the bathroom, nonskid, adhesive textured strips in the tub or shower floor can help prevent falls, while a plastic shower chair can help ease access in and out of the tub. Likewise, a raised toilet seat with armrests may provide balance both for sitting down and getting up.

Add handrails on steps and grab bars on bathroom walls. Handrails placed near the toilet, bathtub or shower can help someone stay balanced when sitting or standing.

In the kitchen, forgo slippery floor wax. To avoid falls, keep kitchen items in cabinets that are easily accessible, at waist-high level.

On stairs, pay particular attention to the top and bottom, where you may miss a step. Consider adding stair treads and handrails on both sides. Be particularly cautious when walking between a carpeted room and a slippery floor. If walking on stairs is perilous, consider adding a stair chair that electrically glides up and down the steps.

Some pitfalls are less obvious:

Don’t be blind to high thresholds in doorways, says John O’Callaghan, president of the Metro Louisville (Ky.) Aging in Place Council. His company, Evalusafe, offers home-safety evaluations for seniors.

Speaking of the floor, clear any clutter there, which is particularly hazardous for nighttime trips from bedroom to bathroom, he says.

Above all, when the golden years usher in an era of change to your home, try to keep the decor cheery. “Being reminded that decline may be on the horizon is never attractive,” says Borgdorff. “An idea to consider that may put a positive spin on the process is to look at it as redecorating.” In other words, she says, while you’re seeking the advice of a home-care professional for functional changes, also consider a decorator to infuse those changes with a new personal touch.