For lots of people, “fall” conjures images of pumpkins and leaves, and around here, football. I think I’d prefer to just call this season autumn. At TPD we spend more time thinking about fall as a verb rather than a season, I’d rather associate those pleasantries of cooler weather and lovely vistas with a less fraught word. But, given that October is Fall Risk Awareness month – we thought it might be a good time to highlight some of the ways we approach fall risk in the homes we design.
According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury and injury death among adults ages 65 and over, and older adult falls result in about $80 billion in medical costs every year. (Learn more here.) These numbers matter—and they point to real opportunities to make homes safer and more livable.
Fall Risk is something we think about a lot when we are working on independent living projects or clients who want to live longer in their homes. And while we can think about the easy stuff like grab bars, minimizing steps, and eliminating tripping hazards, there may be some less obvious opportunities to minimize risk of falling in the home.
- Working on your balance. My grandmother used to stand on one foot in the kitchen for a set period of time and then switch. She referred to herself as a flamingo, but she was working on her balance. If your balance is good, you are less likely to fall in the first place.
- Lighting. So, we have one word for you—LED. Recessed LED fixtures last longer and reduce the frequency of light bulb changes, meaning potentially less time on a ladder or step stool. Brighter lighting can highlight changes in surface or level. We wrote a whole other post on lighting for older adults you can reference here.
- Bathroom Tile. Bathroom tile is such a fun finish to pick out with your architect and designer, but keep in mind that wet floors are slippery floors. In the shower, mosaic tiles with more grout lines can increase friction and reduce the opportunity for falls—but that doesn’t stop in the shower. Look for tiles rated for wet floor use, which many commercial tiles include in their specifications.
- “Hidden Trip Hazards.” These are the little toe-catchers that can sometimes create the biggest fall hazards. Steps are generally easy to see with predictable risers. One of the things we talk about a lot is transitions between surfaces, which may have a threshold involved. Generally, we like to see that threshold either beveled as per accessibility standards or have a flush transition between surfaces.
