Getting Your House Ready
Some common things in your home may now be dangerous. To prevent falls, you should remove or watch out for:
- Long phone or electrical cords that lie across the floor
- Loose rugs or carpet
- Furniture you might trip over in stairs and hallways
- Stacks of books, piles of magazines,mail, etc.
- Pets that run in your path
- Water spills on bare floors
- Bare bathroom tile or slippery floors
- Ice or mildew on outdoor steps
- Arrange the most frequently used kitchen utensils and food on shelves and counters that can be reached easily.
- Have a chair or stool handy in the kitchen to sit in while preparing and cooking food.
- Leave most frequently used dishes in the dish rack, and most frequently used foods in the most accessible cabinets.
- Have a rolling cart to take food from the refrigerator to the counter, and from the counter to the table.
- Have a walker bag or apron with pockets to carry small items such as glasses, books, silverware, etc.
- Attach a cup holder to your walker to carry drinks in covered cups.
- Arrange for someone to care for or feed your pets.