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How To Prevent Falls Around The Home

Falls prevention and management

A bed with a fall mat besides it

Poor balance or instability can increase the risk of falls but there are many things that can be done to decrease fall risk and prevent accidents from happening.

Balance and stability can become difficult for a multitude of different reasons an acquired injury, a neurological disorder, a congenital condition, or simply ageing.

This lack of balance and stability can put someone at risk of falling, which unfortunately usually leads to an actual fall, resulting in injury.

People aged 65 and older are at highest risk of falling around a third of people aged 65 and over, and half of people aged 80 and over, fall at least once a year. However, many falls can easily be prevented by making simple modifications to a loved one's home or living quarters.


Aids To Help Manage The Risk Of Falls

We understand that accidents can change lives. There are many aids to prevent falls that can stop you or someone you love from experiencing a fall at home.

Non-Slip Mats To Prevent Falls

Non-slip mats are a great addition to any home if your loved ones have trouble standing or sitting safely. They are designed to be placed on the floor to provide a stable, non-slip base, enabling the user to stand up or sit down without their feet sliding out from underneath them.

Grab Rails To Prevent Falls

Grab rails can help you or a loved one avoid slips and falls and move about safely and independently, allowing users to remain in their own home for longer.

From extra rails for the stairs to added support over the bath or bed, the right grab rails can make all the difference for anyone who needs some extra security to avoid falls at home or in the garden.


Night Lights To Prevent Falls

Motion detector night lights are another ideal addition to help prevent falls at night. The light automatically comes on when it detects movement, so even if you’re headed to turn a light on in the middle of the night, you’ll have some light to see what you’re doing!

Top Tip: Speak to an occupational therapist who will be able to advise you and help choose the appropriate equipment required to make your home safer.


Falls Management Technology

There is a variety of falls management technology available to alert users of danger and also notify a carer or relative, should a fall happen.

These products are often referred to as ‘Stand-alone Telecare’ or ‘Stand-alone Technology’.


What Is Stand-Alone Telecare?

Stand-alone Telecare is a term that describes products that can be used on their own to alert the user of a danger. They are designed to prevent accidents from happening whilst helping make life easier and safer for the user.


Who Would Benefit From Stand-alone Telecare?

Stand-alone telecare is great for those who would like to stay at home for longer. You can install simple aids around the home to make each room a much safer place to live.

This technology is beneficial for everyone. It can reassure a carer that if there is ever a need for assistance, they can be there.


Telecare: Movement Monitors and Wander Alarms 

Factors such as dim lighting, pets and staircases can all cause falls. A simple solution to this is the Care Call Movement Monitor, which uses an infrared sensor to detect movement. 

Likewise, the Lifemax Border Patrol Safety System has sensors that can be placed in danger areas, such as at the top of stairs or by the front door; when the infrared beam is broken it alerts the carer via a pager, allowing them to attend before an accident occurs.

 

Telecare: Wearable Alarms

Wearable alarms and fall buttons are commonplace in care homes and for those that live in warden controlled properties.

The user simply carries a small device on their person, or wears it on their wrist, in order to alert someone should they have a fall.


Other Handy Telecare Devices

There are lots of other stand-alone telecare products that can be utilised around the home to help you or a loved one stay safe and maintain their independence.

The Vibrating Liquid Level Indicator, for example, will alert the user when the cup is getting full, preventing scalding and spillages; the Magiplug® - Flood & Scald Prevention Bath Plug prevents your bath from overflowing, while also warning you when your bath gets too hot!

The Graphic History Blood Pressure Monitor enables users to track their blood pressure easily at home and can store up to 99 previous readings by time and date; and the Memory Aid Pendant can assist, support and reassure a person suffering from dementia by allowing a caregiver to record personalised messages or instructions and set the date and time for playback.


Telecare Case study

Jackie lives with her mother Jane, who is 85 and suffers from dementia.

Jackie had trouble sleeping at night as her mum regularly woke up at different times of the night and began to wander around the home. Jackie got in touch with us and we recommended the Border Patrol Safety System.

As Jane left the bed and broke the infrared beam it emitted a loud alarm, waking Jackie to prevent any falls. This allows Jackie to sleep well knowing that if Jane wakes in the middle of the night, she will be awoken too.



Which Falls Management Aids Do I Need For Each Room?

Unsure which products you need for which room?

We’ve categorised some of our most popular falls management aids and devices below, by room, allowing you to browse and discover products you may not have even known existed!


Falls Management In The Living Room

It can be difficult to be there for a vulnerable person who needs constant monitoring. For example, you may be in the kitchen preparing lunch, meaning you can't see what is happening in the living room.

Items such as the Safe Presence Chair Sensor Pad can alert you when the person leaves the chair by using pressure sensors and a separate monitor to emit a loud tone.

Likewise, simple aids such as grabbers and non-slip mats can prevent vulnerable people from taking risks that might lead to falls.


Falls Management In The Bathroom

Many accidents can happen in the bathroom problems such as incorrect bathing temperatures, slips and falls are all common occurrences.

We have carefully chosen products to help eliminate these problems our range of grab rails and wall mounted panic alarms are must-haves for any bathroom.


Falls Management In The Bedroom

At night, monitoring a person's behaviour can be difficult, but there are lots of aids available to help carers stay informed whilst also getting a more comfortable night's sleep.

Bed alarms and pressure sensors are great for alerting carers when the person they’re caring for is moving around; this simple solution can help prevent further falls.

Top Tip: Fall-out mats or bed rails can help to prevent injuries if a person is at risk of falling out of bed.

Our range of falls management products have been carefully chosen to assist independent living at home or in care, offering users and carers total peace of mind! Shop our extensive range of falls management and stand-alone telecare products now.