Safe Stairs For Elderly

Keep an eye on it.

Safe stairs for elderly.

Handrails non slip edges lighting obstacle free paths colour contrasts non slip footwear simple design smaller rise resting spots wheelchair ramp stair lift steep or long staircases can be a fall hazard for elderly relatives in your family especially if they suffer from conditions like dementia osteoporosis arthritis or impaired vision. According to the centers for disease control cdc more than half of all falls happen inside the home and another study takes it further claiming that between 10 and 15 percent of those falls occur on stairs. Proper stairway lighting can be accomplished in many different ways. If your elderly loved one is living in a house with stairs it s important to make sure that they are as safe as possible to avoid the risk of a trip or fall.

Stairs in the home of an elderly person are a common location for an injury sustaining fall to occur. Generally speaking carpeted stairs can be safer for older adults than solid wood or stone or any other slippery type of material. Falling down stair prevention. One of the easiest solutions is to install wall lights.

Extend the handrails the full length of the stairs including beyond the top and bottom. These same specifications should assist anyone who has limited ability to climb stairs such as people suffering from arthritis. When climbing the stairs. Falls burns and poisonings are among the most common accidents involving older people.

Just because your elderly parents have no trouble walking on flat ground doesn t mean the stairways are safe for them. Statistics show that over 100 000 elderly people each year require medical treatment following a stair related accident. This article lists safety features and optimal stairway designs for older building occupants. But this does depend on the type of carpeting that is on the staircase and it also depends on the physical condition of the senior person in question.

Modifying stairs for the elderly esther kane 07 21 2019 entire home whether your home has 2 steps or an entire staircase of steps indoors or outdoors if you are an older adult it s important to make the necessary changes to make those steps as safe as as they can be to avoid any possible injury. Stair step riser height specifications codes. Proper lighting won t be much help if the reason you can t see your stairs because your eyes aren t what they used to be. In fact only a licensed physical therapist can make an accurate diagnosis of the possible risks of using the stairs.

With a growing number of older adults living independently it s increasingly important to make sure that they re safe at home. Stairs should be well lit from the bottom to the top.