Fall Prevention

Facts and Stats

About one third of the elder population over the
age of 65 falls each year, and the risk of falls
increases proportionately with age. At 80 years,
over half of seniors fall annually.
Falls are the leading cause of death due to
injury among the elderly, and 87% of all
fractures in the elderly are due to falls.
Falls account for 25% of all hospital
admissions, and 40% of all nursing home
admissions. 40% of those admitted do not
return to independent living; 25% die within a
year.
Every year, about 235,000 people over age 15
visit emergency rooms because of injuries
suffered in the bathroom.

Preventing Falls in the Bathroom
Install grab bars on walls around the tub and
beside the
toilet, strong
enough to hold
your weight.

Add nonskid
mats or
appliques to
bathtubs.

Mount liquid
soap dispenser
on the
bathtub-wall.

Install a portable, hand-held showerhead.

Add a padded bath or shower seat.

Install a raised toilet seat if needed.

Use nonskid mats
or carpet on floor surfaces
that may get wet.
Preventing Falls during
Rest and Sleep
Install bed rails on
both sides of the bed to
prevent one from rolling
and falling out of bed while sleeping.

Place a non-slip mat next to the bed to prevent
individuals from slipping on tile, wood, or
linoleum floors.

Wear
gripped socks or
thick-soled
shoes while
walking, getting
out of a chair or
bed to prevent
falls.

Preventing Falls while Getting around Town

Position tip guard properly on wheelchair to
prevent individuals
from falling
backwards

Wear the
wheelchair seatbelt
at all times

Place grip tape
(contrasted color) at the end of
railings and at the bottom of a
staircase to prevent falling
down the stairs.

Place cut tennis balls
on the bottom of all four legs
of a walker to easily
manipulate the walker
on all surfaces.

When using a walker or
cane, it is important to
stand up straight and be
aware of your
surroundings.

Put nightlights at the end of the stairs and in
dark hallways to help aluminate walkways and
decrease the risk of falling






How to get up from a Fall




If you have any questions regarding this article, feel
free to contact gretchen.kempf@scranton.edu

References
The American Occupational Therapy Association.
(2011, August 16). Aota.org. Retrieved from
http://www.aota.org
Spoelstra, S. L., Given, B. A., & Given, C. W.
(2012). Fall Prevention in Hospitals: An
Integrative Review. Clinical Nursing Research,
21(1), 92-112. doi:10.1177/1054773811418106

1. Prepare
2. Rise
3. Sit