Falls Prevention Checklist
Use this handy checklist to help prevent dangerous falls for the person in your care.
| On the Stairs |
|---|
| ☐ Always keep objects off the stairs |
| ☐ Install handrails along the stairs and ensure they are secure. |
| ☐ Install night lights with motion detect. |
| ☐ Install non-slip tape on the stairs. |
| ☐ Always wear well-fitted shoes or slippers. Wear low heels and non-slip soles. |
| Outside the Home |
|---|
| ☐ In the fall, ensure water and leaves are swept up along the walk path. |
| ☐ In winter, ensure that you salt the driveway and remove as much ice as best you can. |
| ☐ Suggest that they stay indoors when the weather is extreme e.g. slippery on excess snow or ice. |
| ☐ Offer to pick up the mail or walk the dog. |
| In the Bathroom |
|---|
| ☐ Ensure bathtub plug is easy to reach and use (attach a chain to spout). |
| ☐ Install non-slip decals no more than 2" apart on bottom of tub |
| ☐ Remove slippery fabric mats / install nonslip mats if mats are desired. |
| ☐ Install grab bars on toilets, tubs & showers (at least two bars in the tub). Ensure grab bars are secure and don’t move when used. |
| ☐ Consider installing shower seats and a hand-held shower |
| ☐ Consider installing a raised toilet seat. |
| Furniture |
|---|
| ☐ Move furniture so it’s not blocking walkways; also reroute electrical cords and other objects |
| ☐ Use night lights to maximize visibility; install lights around hallways and stairwells. |
| ☐ Use chairs with arm rests |
| ☐ Remove scatter rugs or slippery fabric mats. |
| ☐ Get up slowly from a laying or sitting position to prevent dizziness. |
| General Tips |
|---|
| ☐ Remove stools and step ladders; move things down from higher storage |
| ☐ Dispose of old chairs with no arm rests. |
| ☐ If you have oxygen tubing, keep tubing away from feet when walking. |
| ☐ Use stabilizing equipment like walkers and canes. |
Resource Information:
Type: Article
Length: Long (+10 minutes)
Topics: Aging
Conditions: Disability/Impairment
Related Careguides: Falls Prevention, How To Assist Someone Using Crutches, How To Assist Someone With a Cane, How To Assist Someone With a Walker
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