The Best Fall Prevention Home Products for Seniors
July 24, 2023
The Best Fall Prevention Home Products for Seniors
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related deaths among older adults. It is estimated that one in four seniors over the age of 65 falls annually, though that number is suspected to be higher, as older adults do not always report their falls. There are a variety of reasons why older adults are more vulnerable to falling, including loss of flexibility, strength, and endurance, neurological disorders, and vision challenges. However, the right adjustments to the home environment can go a long way to prevent falls at home.
Here are some products that can be key to fall prevention. Most can be installed in a DIY fashion and many can be completed in a day’s worth of work. It’s well worth it to prevent as many falls at home as possible.
Non-Slip Floor Mats and Rugs
Falls often occur due to slippery surfaces, especially in high-traffic areas of the home. Rugs in the living room, hallways, and bedroom can often be problematic as they cause a change in footing or surface. However, securing the edges of the rugs and ensuring a non-skid surface can make rugs less dangerous. Skid-free surfaces are also crucial in the bathroom, which is perhaps the most dangerous room in the home when it comes to falls.
Non-slip floor mats and rugs are an excellent solution to reduce the risk of accidents. Placing these skid-resistant mats in areas like the entrance, kitchen, and bathroom can help prevent seniors from slipping on smooth surfaces and provide better stability while walking.
Non-slip mats for showers – Shop Now
Slip resistant rug pad gripper – Shop Now
Anti-fatigue & non-slip Kitchen Mats – Shop Now
Grab Bars and Handrails
Installing grab bars and handrails in critical areas like the bathroom, stairs, and hallways can be a game-changer for fall prevention. These sturdy, wall-mounted bars offer extra support and balance to seniors while moving around the house, particularly in spaces where they might require assistance. Opt for high-quality grab bars that can withstand weight and are professionally installed for maximum safety.
Make sure you are installing correctly to keep the bars secure and stable. Check them for stability each time you visit your loved one. Also, understand your loved one’s “good” side when you are installing bars so that they are there to grab on the good, stronger side of the body.
Bathroom Strong Hold Safety Bars – Shop Now
Doorway Assistance Grab Bar – Shop Now
Adjustable Beds and Recliners
Many falls happen in the middle of the night, or in the early morning hours when seniors are waking up to go to the bathroom and are not quite awake quite yet. Adjustable beds and recliners are not only comfortable but also promote fall prevention. Seniors can adjust the position of the bed or recliner to sit up or get out of bed easily, minimizing the risk of falls during bedtime or early morning hours when balance might be compromised. These products also improve circulation and overall comfort for seniors.
Adjustable base & mattress – Shop Now
Adjustable bed rail for Seniors – Shop Now
Shower Chairs and Bath Benches
There are multiple reasons why the bathroom is a dangerous room when it comes to older adults. Wet and slick surfaces makes moving in and around shower treacherous, as does the energy required to stand during personal care. Showering can be a hazardous activity for seniors, especially when standing for extended periods is challenging. Shower chairs and bath benches offer a safe and secure seating option within the shower area, reducing the risk of slipping or falling. These products are ideal for seniors who may have difficulty standing or maintaining their balance while showering. Before ordering, ensure the dimensions of the chair or stool will fit in your current shower, and be sure that your loved one can safely sit down on the bench or stool with minimal support. Practice a few times before moving the device into the shower.
Tub Transfer Bench, Show Chair – Shop Now
Carousel Sliding Shower Chair, Swivel Seat – Shop Now
Bath Chair with Arms, Shower Chair – Shop Now
Adjustable Bath Stool – Shop Now
Motion Sensor Lights
Inadequate lighting can contribute significantly to fall accidents. Motion sensor lights are an ingenious solution to this problem. These lights automatically turn on when they detect movement, providing sufficient illumination for seniors as they move around the house during the night. Ensuring well-lit pathways reduces the likelihood of tripping over objects or uneven surfaces. Motion sensor lights are excellent in hallways and bathrooms, as well as in stairwells, where lighting is often not enough to be safe.
Motion Sensor w/ Flashlight – Shop Now
Motion Sensor Light, Adjustable Brightness – Shop Now
Cord Management Solutions
Tangled cords and cables are not only unsightly but also pose a trip hazard. Implementing cord management solutions like cable organizers or cord clips can help seniors avoid entanglement and reduce the risk of falling. Keeping the living space clutter-free enhances mobility and creates a safer environment for seniors to navigate. While you are securing cords and cables, take time to move other larger clutter from the main pathways of the home, especially if your loved one uses a cane, walker, or wheelchair. Pieces of furniture can often make walking and turning difficult.
Cable Management Wire Ties – Shop Now
Cord & Cable Hiders – Shop Now
Cable Management Box, Cable Holder – Shop Now
Stair Lifts and Ramps
For homes with staircases, installing stair lifts can be a life-changing fall prevention measure for seniors with mobility challenges. Stair lifts provide a safe and convenient way for older adults to move between floors without the risk of stumbling on the stairs. Additionally, ramps can be installed at entrances to accommodate mobility devices like wheelchairs and walkers.
Stair Lift, 350 lbs – Shop Now
Climbing Cane – Walking assistance – Shop Now
Wheelchair, Scooter Loading Ramp
Balance and Mobility Therapy
A bit of balance and mobility practice can go a long way in a well-rounded fall prevention plan. You can get a list of exercises from your physician or better yet, ask for a referral to physical therapy for some outpatient sessions that are personalized. You’ll learn the right way to practice balance and mobility so that you can then incorporate range of motion exercises and balance movements into your daily routine.
Fall prevention is of utmost importance when it comes to ensuring the safety and well-being of our seniors. By equipping homes with these top fall prevention products, we can create a secure environment that allows older adults to enjoy the beauty of autumn without fear of accidents. Non-slip mats, grab bars, adjustable beds, shower chairs, motion sensor lights, cord management solutions, and stair lifts are all valuable investments in senior safety.
Haley Burress – Writer, Senior Health Expert
Haley is a freelance writer specializing in senior health, caregiver support, and other topics relevant to older adults and aging. For more than 15 years, she had the honor of working in various senior living communities serving residents, families, and professional caregivers in local and national leadership roles. She uses that experience and those opportunities as she writes reliable, relatable, and realistic information that is designed to both educate and empower.
Over the past decade, Haley has had the opportunity to write informational resources, including extensive caregiver curriculum and training, for small and large senior service organizations. Her readers expect her to break down the sometimes overwhelming and frustrating information that comes with navigating senior living research, Medicare, and other social-emotional health topics.
When she isn’t writing at her desk (or at a corner table at her favorite coffee shop), Haley is usually walking her dog Junie around the neighborhood, exploring a new trail with her husband and teenage son, or sweating out stress on her Peloton bike. Just like other writers, Haley almost always has her nose in a book.
She takes her role as a senior living and caregiver expert seriously! You can find her elsewhere on the internet, such as her website or LinkedIn.
