Fall Falls: The Season-Specific Fall-Prevention Checklist for Georgia Seniors

Georgia does not get much of a winter. It does get a real fall.

The leaves come down in October and November. It gets dark before supper. The decorations come out of the attic. Each one of those adds a new way for an older parent to trip.

The CDC calls falls the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older. Most falls happen at home. Many can be prevented with small changes.

Here is a checklist built for this time of year in Georgia. Print it. Walk your parent's house with it. Take an afternoon.

Outside the house

Leaves and pine straw

Wet leaves on a driveway or porch are as slick as ice. Pine straw on steps slides underfoot.

Rake or blow walkways, steps, and the driveway weekly through fall
Clear the path from the car to the door first
Hire a neighbor kid if Dad insists on doing it himself and should not be up a ladder
Keep gutters clear so water does not spill onto steps

Steps and porches

Check that every outdoor step has a sturdy handrail, ideally on both sides
Fix loose boards and cracked concrete
Add non-slip treads to wooden steps
Mark the edge of each step with bright paint or tape

Light

Daylight saving time ends in early November. Suddenly the walk back from the mailbox is in the dark.

Put motion-sensor lights on the porch, driveway, and garage
Check outdoor bulbs before the time change
Keep a flashlight by the door

Ladders and roofs

No one over a certain age needs to clean gutters or hang lights from a ladder. You know your parent. You know the age.

Hide the ladder if needed
Offer to do the high jobs yourself on your next visit

Inside the house

Early dark means more walking in dim light

Add nightlights from bedroom to bathroom
Put a lamp within reach of the bed
Use bright bulbs in hallways and stairs
Put light switches at both the top and bottom of stairs

Rugs and cords

Fall brings space heaters, extra lamps, and extension cords.

Remove throw rugs or tape them down with non-slip backing
Route cords along walls, never across walkways
Keep space heaters out of paths, and away from blankets and curtains

The bathroom

Install grab bars by the toilet and in the shower
Add a non-slip mat inside the tub and outside it
Consider a shower chair and handheld showerhead
A raised toilet seat helps if getting up is hard

Stairs

Handrails on both sides
No boxes, shoes, or laundry baskets on steps
Good light at top and bottom

Holiday season hazards

Fall rolls straight into Thanksgiving and Christmas. That means more stuff and more people.

Keep decorations off the floor and out of walkways
Store fall and holiday boxes somewhere that does not require a ladder or a trip to the attic
When the house fills up, keep paths clear of bags and shoes
Watch pets underfoot, especially visiting dogs
Go easy on rearranging furniture for company

The body side of the checklist

A safe house helps. So does a stronger, steadier body.

Medications

Some medications cause dizziness or drowsiness. The risk grows when there are several.

Ask the doctor or pharmacist to review every prescription and supplement
Ask whether anything raises fall risk

Eyes and feet

Schedule an eye exam if it has been more than a year
Check that shoes fit, have non-slip soles, and stay on. No backless slippers
Have foot pain looked at

Strength and balance

Ask the doctor about balance and strength exercises
Look for a tai chi or balance class through a senior center or local hospital
Encourage short daily walks while the weather is good

Fluids

Fall afternoons in Georgia can still be warm. Dehydration causes dizziness.

Keep a water glass in sight

If a fall happens

Make sure your parent can call for help from the floor. A medical alert device or a phone they keep on them
Tell the doctor about every fall, even small ones without injury
Watch for fear of falling. A parent who stops moving out of fear gets weaker, which raises the risk

When home gets harder

Sometimes the checklist works. Sometimes the falls keep coming even after the rugs are gone and the grab bars are in.

Repeated falls, especially at night, can be a sign that your parent needs more help than one house can give. That is worth a conversation with their doctor.

If you are thinking about options near Walton or Gwinnett County, our Loganville page explains how a licensed personal care home works. At The Joy, a certified medication aide is on staff 24 hours a day, including overnight.

Questions? Call (470) 684-3569.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Older Adult Fall Prevention and STEADI resources (cdc.gov); National Institute on Aging, fall prevention tips (nia.nih.gov).