Stairs in castles and palaces were gradually sloped in order to make the ascent to royalty slow and graceful. In the 1600 s standards for building stairs were developed providing dimensions for stairs risers and treads. Riser is the height of the stair, tread is the depth of the stair, and stair nosing refers to the edge of the stair. To put this in perspective a woman s size 7 shoe is approximately 9 inches. The foot size and stride of people has increased since the 1600 s, but the standard for stair dimensions has remained unchanged.
Stairs create an environmental hazard for many people, regardless of structural dimensions.
Having clutter on stairs, poor lighting, lack of a sturdy handrail, loose carpeting, loose tacks or staples, lack of non skid treads and lack of visual identification for uneven stair nosing all increase the risk of falling on stairs. All of these factors place seniors at an increase fall risk, but with awareness and attention to prevention this risk can be reduced. Falls Repair broken sidewalks, driveways, and outside stairs, watch for uneven sidewalks, and be very careful walking on sidewalks at night Install hand railings on outside stairs. During icy or snowy conditions stay indoors. Do not stretch lamp or telephone cords across walk zones.