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It’s estimated that over a third of people over the age of 65 will experience at least one fall every year of their life. Although not all trips or falls are serious, as we age the chances of a fall causing serious injury, or even a fatality, increase significantly.  Falls at home can be a significant risk, especially for older adults or people living with mobility issues.  However, falls don’t have to be an inevitable part of the ageing process. There are lots of tactics you can employ to help prevent a slip or trip in the home environment.  Here are some general tips to help fall-proof your home: Non-Slip Flooring Fall-proofing your home should start with assessing the floor surfaces. Fix loose floorboards, attend to uneven surfaces, and have a thorough check for any other potential trip, slip or fall hazards promptly. Consider, if the home has stairs or steps, fitting anti-slip tread to create more traction and less slip while using the stairs at home. Loose rugs, doormats and shower mats can pose a serious trip risk for the elderly or those with less mobility. Loose rugs can slip and have uneven or raised corners or edges that will easily cause trips or falls.  Replace rugs and mats with non-slip rug pads or attach double sided tape to secure rugs and carpets to the floor.  Where it’s appropriate e.g. kitchens and bathrooms, replace the flooring with non-slip or slip-resistance flooring types.  Handrails and Grab Bars Providing handy grab bars in high traffic areas or tricky to negotiate areas around the house (such as steps, awkward corners, bathrooms, kitchens, dressing areas etc) is another great way to prevent falls and slips. Handrails and grab bars placed in strategic positions will help with balance and transitional movement - e.g. standing up from sitting on the toilet, lifting yourself up steps, holding to balance while dressing. Having dependable aids to hold on to can hugely improve the confidence and independence of an elderly person living in their own home.  Be sure to install grab bars and handrails properly. If you’re not confident that you can do so, contact a professional to install them for you.  Improve Lighting It might seem obvious but good visibility reduces the chances of slips and falls. Rooms with dim lighting create shadows, dark hazard spots and make it harder to judge distances and steps, leading to falls, trips and stumbles.  Consider installing good strong lighting throughout the house, especially in hallways and staircases to help with navigation and spatial awareness throughout the day and night.  In some cases, it might also be worth installing high visibility tape or individual step lighting on staircases to make negotiating these areas much easier.  Use night lighting in bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms for specific  Improve Your Footwear It might sound surprising but research has shown that wearing socks or going barefoot might actually lead to a higher risk of falling in the home. So, making sure that you’re wearing well-fitted, non-slip shoes will help to prevent trips, slips and falls around the house. Wearing proper footwear at home helps with good balance and stability on smooth or slippery floor surfaces. Areas like the bathroom and kitchen can be slippier than, say, the hall or sitting room so extra traction on your shoes will come in handy in these rooms. Well fitted slippers or shoes can also protect your feet from injuries like stubbing or bumping into furniture etc, which can also lead to imbalance and falls in the elderly.  Regular Maintenance and Decluttering Ensuring the home is fall-proof should be seen as an on-going project. Regularly checking for new trip hazards or maintenance on floor surfaces, grab bars and lighting etc should be a part of your routine.  Be sure to keep the home clutter-free. Keep walkways and hallways clear of obstacles, such as loose rugs, cords, and other tripping hazards. Arrange the furniture to allow for clear pathways.  Be organised with how you store items brought into the house, and things that are regularly used. For example, in the kitchen and the bathroom it’s best to store frequently used items at waist height to avoid having to bend or stretch to reach too often. Bending and stretching can lead to imbalance, and a higher risk of falls.  If the elderly person is concerned about the possibility of falling without being close to others for immediate help, it would be wise to consider installing a home safety alert system with a personal SOS pendant to call for help if needed.  Just keep regularly assessing the home for potential fall hazards and make adjustments accordingly. Your GP or health professional should also be able to refer you to an occupational therapist for personal advice based on the specific needs and circumstances of the elderly person involved.

As our society continues to evolve, so do our approaches to caring for the elderly. One positive shift has been the increasing emphasis on providing the care and support for elderly people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, living independently in the comfort of their own homes.  Home is where the heart is, and for many elderly people their houses will hold a lifetime of memories that they might be reluctant to move away from. Being able to stay in their own homes can have profound and positive effects on an older person’s mental and emotional well-being. Balancing Independence and Personalised Care While an elderly person may prefer to stay in their own home, it’s very likely that they will need some form of care or support plan put in place that is tailored to their own individual needs. That plan could include help with cooking, shopping, dressing, or with household admin and management etc. Involving the elderly person with creating the plan for their own care or support within their home will give them a huge sense of control and autonomy over what happens in their day to day life. It also helps to avoid any resistance with receiving help, which for many people can be difficult to accept after a lifetime of living entirely independently.  Holistic Care Plan to Supporting Elderly Independent Living A holistic approach to ageing will involve putting together a care and support plan that addresses the physical, mental, emotional and social well-being of the individual. A holistic care plan will look at all of these elements and bring them together to make sure the elderly person has a better overall lifestyle and sense of wellbeing - which ultimately leads to more success and longevity for their independence at home.  The key aspects of a holistic care plan will include: Physical Well-being: Nutrition: Ensuring a well-balanced and nutritious diet Exercise: Encouraging regular physical activity Preventive Healthcare: Booking regular check-ups, screenings, and vaccinations to prevent or manage health conditions. Mental and Cognitive Health: Cognitive Exercises: Engaging in activities that stimulate the mind, such as puzzles, reading, or learning new skills. Emotional Support: Recognising and addressing emotional well-being Cognitive Health Monitoring: Regular assessments to identify and address cognitive changes or conditions. Emotional Well-being and Social Connection: Social Engagement: Encouraging participation in social activities to foster connections and combat loneliness. Participating in community activities, clubs, or volunteer work to maintain social ties. Emotional Support Systems: Building a network of friends, family, and community resources to provide emotional support. Participating in community activities, clubs, or volunteer work to maintain social ties.   Adopting the idea of supporting the elderly to live in their own homes, has proven to have hugely positive returns for the individual’s wellbeing and overall health. Balancing independent living with the correct level of support and care is an ever-changing challenge, but with a holistic approach it is possible to create a sustainable and fulfilling way for older people to age gracefully in the places that they call home.

Most of us would like to be able to live independently in our own homes for as long as possible into our old age. The reality is, however, that as we age we will face new challenges in our daily lives that, despite years of independent living, could potentially impact our safety, well-being, and overall quality of life.  Here are some key challenges to bear in mind when considering whether an elderly person is ready and able to look after themselves, living independently in their own home: Trips, falls and personal safety According to Age UK, falls are the most common cause of injury related deaths in people over the age of 75.  Older people often fall while carrying out routine, day to day tasks such as opening the front door, walking up and down stairs, bathing or cooking.  Hip and bone fractures are the very common results of falls at home, and are most often the cause of an admission to hospital for surgery.  One of the biggest concerns regarding falls for the older person living at home independently, is the length of time it may take for them to receive help after a fall.  Sadly, fractures from falls can have serious and often fatal consequences for older people, especially if left untreated for any length of time.  Medication overdose or underdose In England, more than 1 in 10 people aged over 65 take at least eight different prescribed medications each week. This increases to nearly 1 in 4 people aged over 85.  Managing medication, therefore, comes with its own challenges for the elderly person living on their own. Elderly people living independently may forget to take their medication, perhaps because of mild dementia, simple forgetfulness or feeling unwell and fatigued. The result will be medication underdose, which can make their already deteriorating health worse.  Similarly, there is the risk that an elderly person might inadvertently take too much of their medication, resulting in accidental overdose and the potentially fatal effects resulting from that.  Mis-management of medication can happen as a result of cognitive deterioration, which could go unnoticed if a person is living on their own. Loneliness and anxiety Living alone can make it much harder for the elderly person to regularly engage in social interactions with others. Loneliness can have a serious impact on both mental and physical health, including chronic illness and depression. Sadly, for a significant number of older people, particularly those living alone, loneliness can define their lives and have a hugely detrimental effect on their wellbeing. Limited movement and mobility can also lead to stress and anxiety. Exasperation is yet another emotional challenge that older people who live alone face. This may be caused by their inability to take care of themselves or perform routine tasks that they could comfortably perform on their own in the past. Poor nutrition Older adults living alone may not have interest in cooking a nutritious meal for themselves. Tasks such as shopping for groceries and preparing cooking ingredients can become tedious, difficult and even appear pointless when only catering for one. The result of this is that the older person living alone can begin to make poor food choices such as eating junk food or not eating at all. Addressing these concerns may involve a combination of GP assessment, family support, community resources, home modifications, and the use of professional care services. Regular check-ins, safety assessments, and open communication with the elderly person can help mitigate these concerns and create a supportive living environment. Remember that their situation will change regularly and that their ability to live alone might require different levels of support as time goes on.