Prevent Falls with Inexpensive Home Modifications, From the July 2015 Harvard Health Letter

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Harvard Health Publications

Jul 07, 2015, 07:15 ET

Boston, MA (PRWEB) July 07, 2015 -- Most falls are preventable. But every year, more than two million people wind up in the hospital because of these accidents, which are a leading cause of injury and even death among older adults, according to the July 2015 Harvard Health Letter.

"Anything that might trip a person is going to increase the risk of a fall. People with a balance disorder are often unable to recover when they trip because they lack the agility and coordination to do so," says Dr. Steven Rauch, a hearing and balance expert at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

Simple home modifications can help reduce the risk of falling. In fact, research has shown that inexpensive fixes at home can help reduce fall-related injuries by about 25%.

Modifications that make a difference include
• removing floor clutter and throw rugs
• rearranging the furniture to improve the flow of foot traffic
• installing handrails along indoor and outdoor staircases
• installing grab bars near showers, bathtubs, and toilets
• improving lighting in hallways, stairways, and outdoor walkways
• installing night lights to illuminate the way to the bathroom at night
• adding nonslip mats and treads to bathroom floors, outside decks, and outside steps.

These home modifications are generally inexpensive, ranging in price from a bit of elbow grease to a few hundred dollars.

Read the full-length article: "Low-cost or no-cost home modifications to avoid falls"

Also in the July 2015 Harvard Health Letter:
• The benefits of going meat-free
• What to expect during cognition screening
• How much fluid does it take to stay hydrated?

The Harvard Health Letter is available from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, for $20 per year. Subscribe at http://www.health.harvard.edu/health or by calling 877-649-9457 (toll-free).

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Kristen Rapoza, Harvard Health Publications, +1 (617) 432-4716, [email protected]