Your home should be a safe and comfortable environment for you to live in.
Over half of all fall-related hospitalisations in Western Australia occur within homes or aged care facilities. The most common areas of the home that falls are occurring include outdoor areas, the bathroom, and the bedroom.
Hazards can be found inside and outside of your home. When these hazards combine with other factors such as poor vision, weak bones, unsafe footwear or medication side effects, the risk of having a fall increases.
Hazards in the home can come in many different forms, so it is important to check your home for hazards regularly to avoid a fall.
Research findings show that home safety strategies for preventing falls in older people living in the community can reduce the overall risk of having a fall by 26%.
Your home should be checked for hazards and if hazards are found, your home environment should be modified to remove or reduce the hazards.
Watch our Make Your Home Safer animation below to learn how Frank and Tiddles make their home safer and avoid slips, trips, and falls. After watching the animation, try using the Home Safety Checklist to identify hazards in your home.
Common hazards in the home
- Areas with dim or poor lighting
- Cluttered walkways inside and outdoors
- Carrying shopping bags or handbags and placing them on the floor
- Unstable furniture, particularly when used as a walking aid
- Objects on the floor or dangling from furniture
- Stairs, steps, and ladders
- Loose mats or rugs
- Slippery floors and liquid spills on the floor
- Uneven floors, stairs, and shower hobs
- Wet or uneven outdoor paths
- Tools and other objects left on the lawn or in the garage
- Pets
Tips to make your home safer
- Remove rugs, mats, slippery tiles, and objects on the floor
- Ensure you have enough lighting and turn the lights on
- Clean up any spills immediately
- Move your furniture to create clear walkways
- Keep everyday objects in easy-to-reach areas
- If you need assistive equipment, speak to your doctor or GP, or care provider
- If you have a fall, always make sure you let someone know
- Use a personal alarm or keep a mobile phone close in the case of a fall
Who can help to make your home safer?
Doctors or GPs
If you have any concerns about hazards in your home, it is best to speak to your doctor or GP at your next appointment. If you don’t have a regular doctor or GP, use Health Direct to find one near you.
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapists (OTs) can help you assess your home and make changes to keep you safe and independent. Visit Occupational Therapy Australia to find a private practice OT in your area.
Organisations such as Indigo Solutions and Independent Living Assessment have OTs who provide home modification and assistive technology support services.
For more information, visit LiveUp, a healthy ageing website delivered by Independent Living Assessment. LiveUp provides information about assistive products to help you stay safe and independent in your home.
Looking after your eyesight and wearing the right shoes are also important for removing hazards and preventing falls. Learn how you can Check Your Eyesight and Wear Safe Footwear to prevent falls.
