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Safety at homeHow to prevent falls at home
A few small changes at home can lower the risk of a fall. Here is a plain checklist, and where technology fits once the basics are done.
Start with the home
The quickest wins are the cheapest ones. Clear the walking paths. Tape down or remove loose rugs and trailing cords. Improve the lighting, especially on stairs and on the route from the bed to the bathroom, and add a night light in the hall. Put rails where there is a step or a slippery floor, and a non slip mat in the bathroom.
Then the person
- Well fitted, non slip footwear, worn indoors too, not loose slippers.
- Strength and balance. A little regular activity, or a program from a physiotherapist, can help lower the risk of a fall.
- Eyesight. An up to date glasses check makes edges and steps easier to judge.
- Medication review. Some combinations cause dizziness, and a GP or pharmacist can check.
Then a safety net
Even with everything in place a fall can still happen, and the thing that changes the outcome is how quickly someone knows. That is where fall detection earns its keep, not as a replacement for prevention, but as the backstop for the fall you did not prevent. If you are weighing up options, our guide to how fall detection works compares the worn and contactless approaches honestly.
Common questions
How common are falls at home?
Common enough that prevention is worth a proper look. The good news is that many hazards at home are easy to reduce.
Does a fall alarm prevent falls?
No. It does not prevent a fall, it shortens the time before help arrives, which is often what decides how serious a fall becomes.
Where do I start?
Start with the home and the person, using the checklist above, then add a safety net like fall detection once the basics are done.
Add a safety net
For the fall you did not prevent, faster awareness changes the outcome.