One out of every 3 Americans age 65 or older falls at least once a year, often leading to a fracture of the hip, spine, or forearm. To ensure the safety of her patients, Lus often checks their home for unnecessary hazards. After working in the field for 17 years, she knows what to look for. Remove lips on the threshold that may cause tripping or would be hard to get over in a wheelchair. Make sure handrails on stairs are installed properly and sturdily.
Furniture is placed so that it's easy to move around, especially in a wheelchair.
Tape down rugs with double-stick tape and remove small scatter rugs altogether. Inspect to ensure that doorways are wheelchair accessible. Ensure cordless phones are easily accessible so that the phone may be taken with the person. Install handrails in the shower, depending on the age and disability of the person. Remove glass shower doors and replace them with a shower curtain if a patient needs to use a tub seat for bathing.