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Falls Prevention Month Edition!
Adjustable Bed Rails
Adjustable bed rails can serve multiple purposes and they don't need to be bulky! There are many bed rails (like this one) that take up minimal space but serve a big purpose. Soft surfaces, like mattresses, can be difficult to stand from, particularly when they are lower than the average chair OR our bodies are stiff from a long nights rest. A bed rail can be placed on the side of the bed to assist with leverage to roll over and to stand up and steady yourself before heading to the bathroom in the middle of the night or starting out the day! Bed rails can take up a small portion of the bed or go the length of the mattress depending on your need. Some bed rails have storage to keep your phone/book/remote close. Some bed rails must be secured under the entire mattress and some only tucked under a portion.
Talk to your physical therapist or doctor to find the right fit for you and we recommend you never install a bed rail alone!
Night Lights
One of the many reasons people fall is related to poor lighting. We recommend night lights with a dusk to dawn feature in bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, and kitchens. These lights will turn on when it deems the room dark enough. This link is to a four pack of these lights with a 4.7 star rating that plug into the wall and turn on automatically when it's dark.
Grab Bars
Grab bars should be considered for help with balance and strength in all bathrooms and areas with a step but no railing (as with some doorframes). Grab bars in showers are helpful due to the slippery nature of wet flooring. Grab bars near the toilet help when legs feel weak after prolonged sitting. The most secure grab bars are installed into wall studs but some bars do not require it. Here is a link to a MOEN grab bar. There are suction cup grab bars but these can fail and are a risker option.
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Elevated Toilet Seats
While not the most elegant addition to your bathroom, an elevated toilet seat can be life changing for many! When we sit for a prolonged period our legs can get numb and feel weak. If you are sitting in a low position where your knees are higher than your hips, it can be harder to stand. Combine a low seat with a prolonged sitting session and you are bound to have a hard time standing! Elevated seats come in all varieties. There is the traditional style that sits over the seat with bars on both sides to further assist you with standing leverage as seen here. For a smaller profile there are raised seats that JUST replace the toilet seat itself and you can find varying heights in this. Here's a link to a 3" lift by Kohler. More recently we've been seeing this discreet style which raises the toilet from the ground level. This one is obviously not a one person job to install but is a good option when renovating or hiring someone to help.
No Tie Laces
It goes without saying, untied shoes, or loose fitting shoes, are a tripping hazard you are 5 or 75. We love this new style no tie lace which still allows you to tighten the shoe as needed. There's nothing wrong with the traditional curly cue style but if you're looking for a low profile look these are a stylish option. Whether it's bending down and tying that's difficult, or your hands aren't cooperating from stiffness, a no-tie shoelace is a great option to ensure a good and safe fitting shoe!
Grabber Tool
Reaching for things that are out of our reach is a terrible way to fall! We've all seen people do this from both sitting and standing. Grabber/reacher tools are FANTASTIC to keep in every room in the house and for the low price of 2.99 at Harbor Freight you can! This Harbor Freight one doesn't have the extra grippers for the grabber part so if you're looking for that you may want to spend a few more dollars are get one of those. Check the size prior to ordering to make sure it's the right item for you! Many have different lengths!
Smart Watches/Life Alerts
We all know the commercial- "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!". This is a VERY real situation for adults ages 65 and up. 1 in 4 adults fall each year, many of those falls resulting in injuries. Many adults will say they are too young for a life alert system and they don't need one because they always have their phone on them. As a physical therapist I need to warn you that what we often see is see is that when someone falls they loose what's in their hands, pockets, and even trusty walker baskets empty out across the floor. I've personally talked to a handful of people who have fallen and couldn't reach their phones that were previously in their hands. What we recommend instead is a wearable device that detects falls and automatically contacts EMS and your emergency contact. Many smart watches can do this and also are a fun, useful, and stylish accessory! Life alert systems operate in this way as well- talk to your local dealer for more info. We have recently learned that there are even some hearing aides that have fall detection properties! Whatever your accessory of choice, we highly recommend a smart device that is wearable and can automatically detect a fall. Worried about it going off unnecessarily? Don't stress, you can quickly shut down the EMS call with a quick click!
Canes
If you're dealing with pain or weakness a cane might be a good option to help support you and decrease your risk of falls. This cane is a standard type and is a great starting point. When looking for a cane find something that has an adjustable height and check with your favorite PT to make sure it's sized and used correctly! Many people make the mistake of using it on the wrong side and choosing the wrong height which can irritate the wrist, elbow, and shoulder! This flat handled cane might be a better fit if you've dealing with wrist concerns. The "HurryCane" style might seem like a great option, however, it does loose it's sturdiness after time and becomes it's own tripping hazard when it inevitably falls. If you're looking for a little more support AND a cane that stands on it's own a small-based or large-based quad cane could be the right fit. When purchasing one of these I HIGHLY recommend talking with your family PT first. These canes must be set up correctly or the cane itself can be a tripping hazard! All canes have height and weight limits so be sure to chose the correct type when ordering!
Walkers
Walkers are a fantastic assistive device for someone managing balance and strength deficits. Walkers are often used after surgery or seen with extended hospital stays where strength may have declined.
There are 3 common types of walkers you might see and a number of other non common types. Talk with your doctor or family PT about which walker would be the best for you and then ensure your PT helps with the fit adjustments and training!
The most common type you might recognize and need is a standard 2 wheeled walker. These provide a nice base of support for balance and allow a normal walking cadence for the user.
Another common walker you might see is something called a Rollator. Rollators have four wheels, often come with a seat with storage and break handles. Rollators are great if you are looking for a little stability and balance support but you don't have much of a weakness issue. Rollators can be dangerous if you have weakness or impulsivity issues as you must be fully able and aware to use the breaks when needed. Breaks can be critical when going down ramps or slight declines. Check with your doctor or physical therapist prior to purchasing a rollator for use to ensure it's the right fit. Medline is a common brand for these walkers which you can also purchase (and have fit) at your local pharmacy.
The 3rd common walker you might see is a standard walker with no wheels. These walkers are used for both balance and weakness issues. These walkers slow the person down as you must pick up and place the walker with each step forward.
All walker types come in petite, regular, tall, and bariatric models. Be sure to find the right fit for you and work with your doctor or physical therapist for guidance!