Over half of all falls happen at home, where we spend much of our time and tend to move around without thinking about our safety. Falls prevention in and around the home is often described as ‘common sense’, however, it isn’t always easy to recognise the things that can cause trips, slips and falls.
Although hazards within the home often contribute to a fall, more often than not falls are caused by personal risk factors
Many falls could be prevented by making a few small changes in your home.
These changes may also make it easier getting around your home and carrying out daily activities.
It can be helpful to have someone else, such as a friend, relative or neighbour to have a look with you to see if there is anything which could be made safer.
An important first step toward preventing falls at home is to remove anything that could cause you to trip or slip while walking around.
To do this:
Loose floor coverings and changes in the type of flooring from one room to the next can be a trip hazard and make walking or balance more difficult. People with a visual impairment like Parkinson’s disease or dementia are more at risk of falls because of uneven flooring.
To improve the safety of your flooring, consider:
If you’re unable to make the changes yourself, a carer, friend or relatives may be able to do this for you. Services such as Care and Repair may also be able to help.
Some floor coverings can also make walking or balance more difficult in certain situations.
Laminate and tiled floors can be slippery, so try to avoid walking in your stocking soles.
At home and elsewhere, try to avoid wet floors and clean up spills right away. Some air freshener sprays can leave a film on carpets or flooring making them slippery.
Poor lighting can cause trips and accidents particularly if you already have poor eyesight. Examples of poor lighting include:
Good lighting should enable you to see quickly without causing discomfort.
When lighting your home:
It’s especially risky moving around at night as your reactions are dulled when sleepy. Putting a light on if you have to get up to use the toilet in the night helps prevent accidents.
If you’re unsteady on your feet, or feel dizzy or lightheaded, changing a light bulb can be a falls risk. Ask a friend, relatives or neighbour for help, or contact your housing provider or Care and Repair service.
If you feel strong and confident enough to change a bulb on your own, always use a step stool with a handle. It’s also important to choose a bulb that gives enough light.
The size and build of furniture and furnishings in your home can also contribute to a higher falls risk, for instance:
Recommendations for furniture and furnishings include:
The colour and contrast of furniture and furnishings can affect your safety when trying to sit down or move about. People who have a visual impairment like Parkinson’s disease, stroke or dementia are more at risk of falls at this time.
When picking furniture and furnishings, it’s best to have a contrast colour on the seat of a chair, bed cover and toilet to help you find where to sit. For example, if you have a light carpet, have a dark bed and seat cover.
It takes excellent balance to over-reach, bend down low or stand on a stool to get to an item in a cupboard or drawer. If you struggle with balancing, or often feel dizzy or light-headed, it’s a good idea to store often-used items in your home – such as food containers, dishes and clothing – within easy reach and at a comfortable height.
If it’s difficult for you to walk and carry items at the same time, ask an occupational therapist about a trolley or a caddy for a walking frame.
Think about how you currently keep your home safe:
An occupational therapist can help you to stay active and safe by:
If you would like further advice, or are having difficulties with everyday tasks, you can ask to be referred to an occupational therapist by contacting your local social work department, or health centre.
If you have Parkinson’s disease, and are at risk of falling, Parkinson’s UK have information on occupational therapy and Parkinson’s explaining how occupational therapy can help.
Care and Repair Scotland provides advice and assistance to enable people aged 60 or over, or who have a disability, to repair, improve or adapt their homes.
Home safety is not just important for falls, it can also help to prevent domestic fires for which older people are at most risk. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service offer free home fire safety visits to help you spot possible fire hazards and fit smoke alarms free of charge if you need them. To arrange a visit for you, or someone you know, phone 0800 0731 999 or text ‘FIRE’ to 80800.
Visit the Telecare Self-Check online tool to find the right support for you in your area. This easy to use online tool allows you to find helpful information on telecare services that could help you live independently at home for longer.
Last updated:
14 March 2023