To make the stairs safer, you must first identify stair hazards. Helping seniors prevent falls and bringing many more benefits You’ll be able to use your stairs easily and worry-free. If you live with small children, vulnerable seniors, or pets, a safety-gate is a must-have. Installing a shower mat or non-slip decals to the bottom of the tub is also a good idea. From the floor of her kitchen to the floor of the garage is a 24 inch straight drop. The handrails for exterior stairs typically end at the bottom step. Consider handrails and stair … Color contrast between the treads and risers on stairs; Transform entryways into safe zones for seniors. Clear your stairway of any objects (such as books, shoes, etc.) Not only stairs, using ramps also cause issues with elderly as in many cases they misjudge the angle of landing and also slip. Here are a few examples of safety measures you or your loved one should take. Share. It’s essential that you take stock of your loved one’s stairs and check for potential safety problems. How To Make Stairs Safer For The Elderly. Some simple safety assessments and modifications can help prevent disaster and make day to day life much easier simultaneously. Here are some ideas that can make their stairs safer than ever. Step 1: Low-cost safety tips. This is also a challenge for those that suffer from a movement-limited disability. We have a friend who is trying to remain in her home. The person moves the EZ Step device one step at a time up or down the stairs reducing strain on knee joints. Find ways to reduce stair time. 4. Stairs are always safer than a ladder. *Note – The International Building Code has regulations for keeping steps and stairs safe. Such was the case with the stairs in the 1980s suburban Denver home of Don and Ricki Safer. The gadget actually adds a step in between stair risers so that the person does not need to step so high. No house, no matter how beautiful, is worth taking a tumble down the stairs in the middle of the night. Exterior stairs may be a challenge for seniors who are unsteady on their feet or have balance issues, so installing ramps is a necessary home modification that is well worth the cost to provide greater independence. Falls on the stairs can be quite serious, so finding ways to prevent them, while still allowing full access to a home is imperative. Assistive devices to help seniors climb stairs Stair climbing devices for the elderly to ride along the steps. When choosing a gate, make sure you get one that is up-to-date with current safety regulations. For older people living on more than one level, stairs can be especially dangerous. Her kitchen has a door that opens into her garage and there is an existing 3 or 4 step stairway someone built from wood. Fall prevention on stairs is so important because the height of the stairs leads to a greater potential for injury. Making a Home Safer for the Elderly The following easy, low or no cost home safety modification tips can help make a home safer for elderly loved one: Review the home and implement changes where needed, especially in the three most dangerous areas: Bedroom, living room and hallway. There are a few things to consider when determining the risk level of your stairs. ... obstructed pathways, and wide spaces with no supports. Stair Safety for Porch Steps. Invest in smart home products to make the home safer and more functional for the elderly. If you’ve got kids or pets — especially elderly pets — safe stairs are a must. Whether due to slower reaction times or simply not being able to see and avoid risks, elderly people are far more likely to suffer a fall or other injury when at home. Luckily, making your stairs safer doesn’t require much work. This post is a follow up to a blog covering the general concepts of stair safety. Take plenty of steps to make sure your stairs are safe, though. But stepping off the bottom step (or preparing to step up on it) is actually when someone is the most off balance and likely to fall. • Apply nonslip wax on floors. The Community Health Research Unit at the University of Ottawa conducted a study of over 700 staircases throughout a Canadian community, including those of over 500 seniors still living independently. If you have the room, use a spiral stair design to make the attic safer to access. Lighting is also critical, says Cratsley, so make sure the entire stairway is well lit from top to bottom. 1. Of course all areas of the home should be addressed, but the stairs frequently present the biggest danger to a senior. Here are some essential steps to remove the main safety concerns from these areas. Avoid gates that have … There is no simple fix for steep stairs, complete remodeling is necessary. Clear the Deck. I love when I find safety products for seniors that can serve multiple purposes. Make sure stairs are as safe as possible by removing anything that could get in the way and cause trips or falls. Handrails are a must, on both sides of the staircase if possible. When climbing the stairs no longer becomes a safe activity, even with assistance from a caregiver or training from a healthcare provider, one can resort to the use of a stair glide. Stairs can be dangerous for your elderly loved one, particularly if they’re already at risk for falling. • Put nonskid treads on steps. However, while ‘keeping active’ is generally a good idea, straining to use the stairs can inflict lasting damage on our knee joints and increase the risk for falls. How to Make Homes Safer for Older People. These details are applicable for both exterior and interior ladders. This stair assistance step for the elderly looks somewhat like a cane but it has a four point plastic base on the bottom. Many people find that they can make these changes themselves. • Remove throw rugs. Luckily, there are a number of ways to combat the causes for falls and make your stairs safer to use: Stair Safety Tips for Seniors. Many seniors are only one fall away from a loss of independence. Consider a spiral stair design. • Remove wheels on chairs. Yes and frankly, they are often overlooked as an option for improving stair safety in a house. Making your entryway safer is one of the basic steps you can do to make aging in place as easy as possible. In order to make the surface of the stairs as safe and sturdy as possible, carpet runners should be removed. If moving to a single-storey home is not an option, consider moving the elderly person’s bedroom downstairs so that … This could include items left on the stairs to go to the rooms upstairs, rugs or threadbare carpets that could catch people as they’re walking up or down them. Install a grab bar in the shower in case someone starts to slip. Keep the top and bottom of stairways clear of loose rugs — they’re a tripping hazard. Jul 26, 2020 - Staircases are a hotspot for slipping or tripping among the elderly. Those in the over-65s age bracket account for the vast majority of hospital admissions and the highest incidence of serious injuries. Additionally, adding non-slip strips can be beneficial for the safety of seniors using the stairs, especially for wooden stairs. And, … Physical Therapy Exercises for Seniors: How to Properly Ambulate Stairs - 24Hr HomeCare - Duration: 1:27. May 10, 2020 // by Joanna McCoy. Any ideas for making stairs safe for an elderly friend? We’ve been making stairlifts for over 40 years and your safety has always been our top priority. And, this one made me very happy! Replace ladder access with stairs. A great number of injuries to seniors occur as the result of slips, trips, and falls, so ensuring that the flooring is as safe for them as possible can be an important first step. Stannah stairlifts are safe. Reduce shower danger. Create an area for your bundles and packages both inside and outside your home. Unfollow. If you want to use your attic and it has a pull-down ladder access, have a contractor install stairs instead and make sure they have adequate handrails. Not surprisingly, the shower is a very common place for a fall. In the last 10 years, there has been a shocking increase of over 30% in the number of deadly falls among seniors. How to Make Stairs Safe for Seniors and Those with Movement-Limiting Disabilities One of the biggest challenges that we face as we age is limited range of motion. They sought to gain a better understanding of what makes stairs dangerous. • Add textured, no-slip strips in the bathtub and shower. Follow. For many people, stairs are unavoidable. 24 Hour Home Care 5,075 views Everything we’ve learned we’ve used to make our stairlifts safer … Multitasking is a recipe for disaster. 4 Ways to Make Stairs Safer & Easier for Seniors. • Place a waterproof seat or chair in the shower. Some vendors again call this device a stair lift. And for people who live in homes with stairs, there's an added risk. / Archives for how to make stairs safer for elderly. Here is how you can take precautions to limit the risk factors and make the stairs safer to use. Often these are cheap, prebuilt MDF stairs that are narrow, steep, and a hazard to everyone: toddler, teenager, adult, and senior alike. Install a hand-held shower head to make it easier to shower, especially when seated. Increase stair visibility by using contrast strips on top and bottom stairs. Creating a Safe Living Environment In the general living area… The living room and hallways of a home tend to be high traffic areas that also pose many safety concerns for seniors. Photos & sketches: Doug Walter One of the most dangerous stairs people encounter each day are the ones leading into the house from the garage. Using a shower seat is also safer than standing in a slick tub. But there are actually many ways to make stairs easier and safer for the elderly. We present here a some important yet simple tips which can help in making stairs and ramps more accessible, comfortable and safer to climb. For this reason, many of the procedures for making homes safer for the elderly focus on reducing the risk of falls. To make the stairs safer to climb and descend, you must reduce stair riser height and increase tread depth. Helping elderly downstairs and upstairs in a safe and comfortable way Many people think that continuing to use the stairs will bring health benefits. Start by examining the flooring to determine if there are any areas, such as minor steps, that may pose a hazard to a senior. Safe Stairs. Despite all of the above methods and tricks to make the stairs safer, there comes a time when climbing even a few steps is hard on senior citizens. Learn more about the tools to keep your entryways safe. Be sure to check with your city inspector’s office as well before you make any changes to your steps. As a way to improve safety and reduce the risk of falls among seniors, most experts recommend finding ways to make the stairs safer. Simple Rail handrail kits from Simplified Building make it easy for DIYers to build an extended handrail that fits any stairway. Licensed contractors are trained in building and installing ramps of the correct height and rise for seniors. With stairs, using ramps also cause issues with elderly as in many cases they misjudge the angle landing... 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