Falls are some of the most prevalent, yet avoidable incidents that happen at home to people of all ages. With the right tools and gadgets, you can prevent a fall, and the resulting injury, recovery time and loss of mobility.
Let’s take a look at some items that will assist in reducing fall risk, and to get help quickly in the event of an accident. These products are a great fit for aging relatives, those recovering from illness or injury, or our community paramedicine patients.
Grip handles
One of the first things we do when we feel unsteady is we tend to reach out and look for something to grab. For this reason, grab bars can be a fantastic tool to help keep you steady on your feet and reduce the risk of a fall. For this, I recommend the Gatco 944 elevated grab bar. This grab bar is great for bathrooms, showers or anywhere with a high fall risk, not to mention it is crafted with modern style/aesthetics in mind. With various sizes available, you can get one of these for as little as $89 on Amazon.
Elevated toilet seats
The Bemis Rise 4.5 inch toilet seat with bilateral grab handles is a great choice for bathroom safety, particular during moments of sitting and rising when there is potential for instability and falls. The support arms are rated for up to 200 pounds, and the system is held securely to the seat without any wiggling or movement. This a reasonably priced choice for an item that could make a regular activity of daily living much easier and safer.
Rug grippers
It’s always beneficial to be proactive and set up the furniture in your home for maximum safety. This includes carpets and rugs. Loose rugs pose an enormous trip hazard that could cause serious harm. I recommend installing rug grippers. You can find a 12-pack box of corner grips by Zongool on Amazon for just $7.99. This is very short money for something that could potentially keep you out of an emergency room, and an easy way to make a home safer.
Motion sensor night light
It’s important to recognize all risk factors for trips and falls, including low lighting. For dusk and nighttime, it is a great idea to utilize motion sensor lights. The Maz-Tek plug-in dimmable motion sensor lights are a terrific option for bedrooms, hallways or any high-traffic, low-light areas. These will fit right into a standard prong wall outlet, and efficient in size and design. At $6.99 for a pack of two, these lights are a no brainer for nighttime sight.
Non-slip shower mat
Wet, soapy, slippery shower and bathroom floors can be a major fall hazard. A non-slip shower mat like the Gorilla Grip Bath Mat offers excellent grip, reducing the chance of slipping.
Fall alerting
As we finish talking about pro-active measures to prevent falls and injuries, it is also worth noting what’s available to acquire help should a fall occur. This is especially important for those frequently home alone. I recommend the Daytech Wireless Caregiver Push Button. With a pragmatic design featuring both watch and necklace style buttons, this device is efficient in delivering an alert to the caregiver’s pager (included in the pack) immediately upon button activation. This device is extremely user friendly and comes backed by a 1-year warranty, all included for the price of $56.99 with a 15% off coupon available on Amazon.
Wearable devices like the Apple Watch Series 8 have built-in fall detection features, automatically calling emergency services if a hard fall is detected and no movement follows. Starting at around $399, it’s a pricier option, but with added health monitoring benefits.
An investment in our safety and wellbeing is one of the best investments we can make. There are plenty of items out there, including the ones I listed and more, to help keep us safe, healthy and injury-free. With a little bit of research, you can find the right items for your home to ensure you reduce the risk of falls and keep your family safe.
|More: Top mobility aids to enhance safety and independence
Mobility aids
These additional options can help with standing and walking, preventing falls:
- Able Life car assist grab bar handle for easy sit to stand assistance, from $19.00
- Vive folding cane – collapsible, lightweight, adjustable, from $16.99 (regularly $24.99)
- Progenix Strong and Steady Stand and Sit Mobility Lift Aid – accommodates moving patients up to 400 lbs (regularly $990.00)
- Medline height adjustable toilet safety frame bathroom assist rail with armrests, from $48.53
- Honmido foldable walking cane – height adjustable, collapsible for travel, from $19.88
- Bulyoou walking cane/rail standing aids, from $49.99
- Vive Stand Assist – mobility standing aid rail for couch, chair, from $49.98
- VOCIC foldable walker with seat, from $76.49 (regularly $89.99)
- Sotvacmit Liberty handheld lift standing aid, from $22.69
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