Everyone deserves to feel safe and confident at home. However, our homes can be a source of injury. Around 50% of all falls among Canadians aged 65+ occur at home.  Moreover, falls aren’t the only way one can get hurt – 27% of injuries among Canadians 65+ result from everyday activities such as household chores.

Luckily, there are several simple ways that you can adapt your home to help avoid the risk of injury.

Simple safety tips for your home

• Take care when lifting, performing heavy household chores, or gardening. Consider getting a gardener or cleaner to help with more challenging tasks.
• Keep hallways, stairs, and entryways free from clutter and loose rugs.
• Keep high-traffic areas well lit and equip them with easy-to-reach light switches. At night, use a night light to illuminate the way to the bathroom.

Safety tips for the bathroom

Up to 80% of falls in the home happen in the bathroom, so special attention should be paid to this room.

• Help to avoid slipping on wet surfaces by placing a rubber shower mat inside the shower or bathtub and a rubber-backed soft mat on the floor next to them. Be sure to mop up any puddles of water straight away. You can check out our range of bath mats here.
• Consider installing grab bars in areas where falls are more likely. They are often placed next to the toilet, bathtub, or shower, where they can help you avoid overbalancing when getting on and off the toilet or in and out of the bath. Wellwise by Shoppers™ offers a range of grab bars that you can browse here.
• A shower or bath stool or chair could be a good option if you tire easily and find it more comfortable to bathe from a seated position.
• Bath transfer benches can make getting in and out of the bathtub safer. They extend over the side of the bath and allow you to slide in rather than having to stand on one leg as you get in.
• Another form of bathroom-related injury can be scolds. So, make sure you check the temperature of your bath or shower before getting in.
• Although relaxing in the bath listening to the radio or watching something on an iPad can be enjoyable, make sure you keep electrical items away from the water.

Speak with the Wellwise Home Services Team

If you’re interested in making renovations to help you and your loved ones avoid injury at home, our home services team is here to help. Available throughout Ontario, our CAPS-certified consultants will carry out an assessment of your home and make recommendations based on your needs. We’ll then install your chosen products and offer post-sale follow ups and maintenance. Interested? You can contact our home service team here.

Ontario and BC Tax Credits

The governments of Ontario and British Columbia have recently introduced tax credits to help seniors and people with disabilities renovate their homes to make them safer and more accessible. 

You can learn more about the tax credits and find out whether you’re eligible at the links below.

• British Columbia home renovation tax credit for seniors and persons with disabilities
• Ontario Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit

Experiencing falls and other injuries at home is not an inevitable part of aging – there’s a lot that can be done to avoid them. With these simple tactics, it’s easy to make your home somewhere you feel safe and secure.

The information presented in this blog post is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on any information in this post as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or as a substitute for professional counseling care. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional.

Resources

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-624-x/2011001/article/11506-eng.htm#a3

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/aging-seniors/publications/publications-general-public/you-prevent-falls.html

https://belvederehealthservices.com/belvedere-home-care/blog/safety-seniors-preventing-falls-bathroom#:~:text=And%20up%20to%2080%20percent,injury%20and%20spinal%20cord%20injury.