Senior Health:
Falls and Fractures

Make Your Home Safe
You can help prevent falls by making changes to unsafe areas in your home.

In stairways, hallways, and pathways:

• Make sure there is good lighting with light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs.
• Keep areas where you walk tidy.
• Check that all carpets are fixed firmly to the floor so they won’t slip. Put no-slip strips on tile and wooden floors. You can buy these strips at the hardware store.
• Have handrails on both sides of all stairs, from top to bottom, and be sure they’re tightly fastened.

In bathrooms and powder rooms:

• Mount grab bars near toilets and on both the inside and outside of your tub and shower.
• Place non-skid mats, strips, or carpet on all surfaces that may get wet.
• Keep lights on.

In your bedroom:

• Keep electric cords and telephone wires near walls and away from walking paths.
• Tack all carpets and area rugs firmly to the floor.
• Arrange your furniture (especially low coffee tables) and other objects so they are not in your way when you walk.
• Make sure your sofas and chairs are a good height for you so that you can get into and out of them easily.

For More Information
Many states and local areas have education and/or home modification programs to help older people prevent falls. Check with your local government’s health department or division of elder affairs to see if there is a program in your area.

For more complete information on simple, inexpensive repairs and changes that would make your home safer, contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety  Commission. Ask for a free copy of the booklet, “Home Safety Checklist for Older Consumers.”

• Consumer Product Safety Commission
     Washington, DC 20207
     (800) 638-2772 (toll-free)
     (800) 638-8270 (TTY toll-free)
   
• National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
     Mailstop K65
     4770 Buford Highway NE
     Atlanta, GA 30341-3724
     (800) 311-3435 (toll-free)
     www.cdc.gov/ncipc

The National Institute on Aging has information on health and aging, including information on osteoporosis and a booklet on home safety for people with Alzheimer's disease.

• The National Institute on Aging Information Center
     P.O. Box 8057
     Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
     (800) 222-2225 (toll-free)
     (800) 222-4225 (TTY toll-free)

Visit the Web site www.nih.gov/HealthInformation to order publications in English or Spanish, or to sign up for regular email alerts.

Visit http://www.nihseniorhealth.gov/, a senior-friendly Web site from the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine. This simple-to-use Web site features popular health topics for older adults, including information on using medicines safely. It has large type and a “talking” function that reads the text aloud.

Source: National Institute on Aging

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