Rehabify
In brief
- Most falls in older adults happen at home, often in the bathroom, on stairs or on the way to the toilet at night.
- Small, low-cost changes help: grab rails, non-slip surfaces, firm mats, night lights and well-fitting footwear.
- Home changes work better when combined with strength and balance exercise and a medicine review.
- At Rehabify in Bengaluru, Dr. Dharshan N A, a physiatrist, assesses why a person is unsteady and gives families a home safety plan.
Why the home matters
About one in three people over 65 falls each year, and many of these falls happen in familiar rooms. A wet bathroom floor, a loose mat, a dark corridor at night or a step without a rail can be enough to cause a fall when legs are weaker or balance is slower.
A fall can lead to a broken hip or wrist, a head injury, or a loss of confidence that keeps a person indoors. The good news is that many hazards are easy to spot and fix. A fresh look at the house, room by room, is a good place to start.
An Indian-home checklist
Walk through the house with your parent or relative and go through each area together.
Bathrooms
- Fix grab rails beside the toilet and in the bathing area. Towel rods and taps are not strong enough to hold body weight.
- Use a non-slip mat or anti-skid tiles where water collects. Wipe the floor dry after bathing.
- A sturdy plastic stool or shower chair lets a person sit while bathing with a bucket and mug, instead of squatting.
- If squatting is hard, a western toilet or a raised commode seat over an Indian toilet makes getting up safer.
- Keep soap, oil and the mug within easy reach so no one bends or stretches on a wet floor.
- Avoid locking the bathroom door from inside, or fit a lock that opens from outside in an emergency.
Floor mats and floors
- Remove small loose mats, or choose mats with a rubber backing that grips the floor.
- Watch for curled edges on durries and carpets, and tape or remove them.
- Mop floors when the person is resting, and keep them dry before they walk on them.
- Keep walkways clear of wires, buckets, footwear, bags and pooja items.
- Mark raised door thresholds with a strip of bright tape so they are easy to see.
Stairs
- Fit a firm handrail on both sides if possible, running the full length of the stairs.
- Mark the edge of each step with a contrasting strip, especially the top and bottom steps.
- Keep stairs free of clutter, chappals and stored items.
- Make sure there are light switches at both the top and the bottom.
- On outside steps and terraces, watch for moss and wet patches in the monsoon.
Lighting at night
- Place night lights or motion-sensor lights between the bed and the bathroom.
- Keep a torch or a light switch within reach of the bed.
- Use brighter bulbs in corridors, stairs and the kitchen, and replace failed bulbs quickly.
- Plan for power cuts with a rechargeable emergency light near the bed.
- Sit on the edge of the bed for a minute before standing at night, to avoid dizziness.
Footwear
- Choose closed-back footwear with a thin, firm, non-slip sole that fits well.
- Avoid loose slippers, worn-out chappals, high heels and walking in socks on smooth floors.
- Use separate non-slip footwear for the bathroom.
- Check feet regularly. Pain, swelling, long nails or numbness, common with diabetes, all affect balance.
Other rooms
- Keep often-used items in the kitchen and bedroom between waist and shoulder height, so no one climbs on a stool.
- Choose chairs and a bed of a height that makes it easy to stand up, with armrests where possible.
- Keep a phone within reach and save emergency numbers on it.
Home changes are only one part
Guidelines on falls prevention agree that the home is one piece of a larger picture. The person also needs:
- Strength and balance exercise, done regularly over months, with a physiotherapist and at home
- A medicine review, because sleeping tablets, some blood pressure medicines and many medicines taken together can cause dizziness
- Eye checks, and care when changing to new glasses
- The right walking aid, if one is needed, at the right height
- A check for dizziness on standing, low blood pressure, foot problems and other health conditions
For people who have already fallen, a home visit by an occupational therapist or a trained professional can find hazards that families miss.
How Rehabify helps
Dr. Dharshan N A, whose MD research looked at balance, carries out a falls and balance assessment. This includes strength, walking, blood pressure lying and standing, feet, eyesight questions and a review of medicines. Families leave with a written home safety checklist, a home exercise plan and advice on footwear and walking aids. Follow-ups can be at the clinic or by video consult, so relatives in other cities can join in.
When to get help urgently
Key takeaways
- 01
Start with the bathroom and the path from the bed to the toilet at night.
- 02
Grab rails, non-slip floors, night lights and firm footwear cost little and lower the risk.
- 03
Remove loose mats and clutter, and mark steps and thresholds so they are easy to see.
- 04
Pair home changes with strength and balance exercise, a medicine review and eye checks.
- 05
After a fall with a head injury, severe pain or new weakness, call 108 or 112.
Common questions
Which room is the most common place for falls?
The bathroom is a common place, because floors are wet and people bend, squat and turn there. The path from the bed to the toilet at night is another risky area. Start your safety changes in these two places first, then move on to stairs, the kitchen and other rooms.
Are grab rails really needed if my parent is still steady?
They are a sensible step for anyone over 65, and easier to fit before a fall than after one. Balance can change quickly after an illness, a new medicine or a hospital stay. A firm rail beside the toilet and in the bathing area costs little and gives support when it is needed.
What footwear is safest at home?
Footwear that fits well, stays on the foot and has a thin, firm, non-slip sole. A closed back is safer than a loose slipper. Walking barefoot on a dry floor may be fine for some people, but socks on smooth tiles or marble are slippery and should be avoided.
Will making the home safer stop all falls?
No single step can prevent every fall. Home changes lower the risk, and they work better when combined with strength and balance exercise, a medicine review, eye checks and the right walking aid. The doctor will look at all of these together and explain what is likely for you.
Can you check our home by video?
In many cases, yes. During a video consult, a family member can walk the camera through the bathroom, bedroom and stairs, and the doctor can point out hazards and suggest changes. A clinic visit is still needed for the balance examination and some tests.
Sources
- [1]
World Health Organization (WHO). Step Safely: strategies for preventing and managing falls across the life-course, 2021
- [2]
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline CG161. Falls in older people: assessing risk and prevention
- [3]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries) materials, including the home fall prevention checklist for older adults
This guide is for general education and does not replace a consultation. Read how we write and review guides in our editorial policy.
