How to Prevent Falls at Home for Older Persons
Preventing falls at home can help older persons stay safer, more confident, and more independent in familiar surroundings. Small changes, such as the following can form part of a practical fall-prevention plan:
Clear walkways and secure loose rugs to reduce common trip hazards.
Install handrails, grab rails, and non-slip mats where extra support is needed.
Improve lighting in hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms, and stair areas.
Choose well-fitting shoes or slippers with non-slip soles.
Keep eye and ear checks up to date, as changes in sight or hearing can affect balance and awareness.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist to review medicines that may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or unsteadiness.
Why fall prevention at home matters for older persons
Falls can have life-altering consequences for older persons. Having a fall can increase the risk of serious injuries and disabilities and can have long-lasting psychological consequences.
According to TILDA research from Trinity College Dublin, 1 in 8 people aged 70 and over, 12%, required medical attention for a fall within a 12-month period. Thankfully, there are steps we can take to help reduce the risk of a fall.
These simple tips and precautions for preventing falls in older persons can create a safer home. Each can support quality of life at home.
Install safety bars and rails
Handrails and safety bars can be key in providing mobility support around the home. We're all used to using the handrail to help ourselves go down staircases safely, but extra rails can be installed for support around the house.
Particular ones to consider include grab bars in bathtubs or next to toilets and railings in hallways. This equipment is a small change that can support safer movement in the home.
Clearing clutter and keeping tidy
The easiest way to keep the house safe is by ensuring clear paths and tidy homes. This is the easiest step in fall prevention for older persons. The more clutter in the home, the more tripping hazards that will arise.
Floor hazards and loose rugs
Throw rugs and loose mats should also be removed or secured with non-slip mats or carpet tape, as slippery floors are a common cause of falls. Support older persons by helping to clear the clutter and keep everything neat, particularly in hallways and on staircases.
Does poor lighting increase the risk of falls at home?
Poor lighting can make it harder to see steps, rug edges, furniture, and other hazards, especially during the night. Add night lights in bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways, and consider motion-activated lights near stairs or the route to the bathroom. Light switches should be easy to reach at room entrances and at the top and bottom of stairs.
Encourage improvements to physical health
Regular movement can help reduce the risk of a harmful fall. Balance and strength activities, such as sit-to-stand practice, can help strengthen muscles, limbs, and tissue and encourage improved coordination and resilience. Choose activities that suit the person’s ability and follow clinical advice where needed.
Wearing appropriate, safe clothing
Appropriate clothes are vital in staying safe from falls at home. Wearing socks around the house may be comfortable, but socks are less slip-resistant than shoes or slippers, so always wear the right footwear.
A cane or walker can also provide valuable extra support when balance is unsteady. Comfort Keepers personal care can help with dressing, footwear, and other daily routines that support safer living at home.
Similarly, baggy clothing can be a trip hazard or can get caught on rough surfaces around the home and result in falls. Wear comfortable clothing, but ensure that it is fitted suitably.
Take care of your eyes and ears
Make sure to regularly get eye and ear checks. Decreased hearing and eyesight can affect environmental awareness, resulting in an increased risk of falling.
Worsened hearing dramatically affects your balance, so make sure to check in with a doctor if you've noticed any deterioration. Similarly, eyesight problems are a risk, so it's important to always have the right sight aids.
Manage medications
Certain medications, especially when several are taken together, can have side effects such as dizziness or faintness. Always notify a doctor if this is happening for you or a loved one.
The doctor may need to change the dose or look into alternatives that do not put you at a higher risk of falling.
A regular medication review can also help identify any combinations that may increase the risk of a fall. For day-to-day guidance, our guide to taking medicine safely has more practical advice.
Should older persons have an emergency response system at home?
An emergency response system cannot prevent every fall, but it can make it easier to call for help quickly if something happens.
A home alert device, pendant alarm, or smartwatch with fall detection may suit some households. A well-charged phone should also stay within easy reach, especially beside the bed and in the rooms used most often.
How a home safety assessment can support fall prevention
A home safety assessment can help identify hazards that are easy to miss day to day. An occupational therapist, physiotherapist, or nurse can assess the person, the home environment, and any mobility aids already in use.
Comfort Keepers can then provide practical homecare support that helps older persons follow agreed recommendations, maintain routines, and continue living safely at home.
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