Fall Prevention for my Elderly Parent

by Cindy
(Ohio)

Fall prevention for our elderly parents has been a main topic of conversation around our home. Our mother is very concerned with falling as she has had friends fall and either suffer a long hospital stay or to have their lives cut short and be transferred from the hospital straight to the nursing home. This is a very deep concern!

What we have done are simple ideas and fix-its that at least gives a more comforting thought when going about daily routines.

We installed shower bars in all the bathtubs/showers and pull up bars by the toilets for easy up and down help. We have taken up most of the throw rugs (after much discussion) which makes hallways and bathrooms hopefully safer. Any portion of the home that has a step up or down we have installed a bar or other device to help steady weak legs. We certainly did this for thier well being, however we are much better off during the day knowing that at least some of the concerns of my parents and in particular about falling and fall prevention have been addressed.