I’m in my late 50’s and over the years my walking and balance has gotten terrible. Matter of fact, I’ve had 2 hip replacements, 1 knee replacement, a wrist replacement and a broken foot just in the past 15 years. I suffer with a genetic disease that causes brittle bones, chronic pain and all kinds of other problems. On top of that…age. As we age our balancing isn’t what it used to be.
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Last month I had a physical therapist come into my home to talk to me about how to avoid tripping hazzards in my home. He pointed out all kinds of things that I had never thought of. Today, I wanted to share some of those potential hazzards with you.
* Electrical Cords – plugged-in, unplugged, extension cords…all of them! Get them moved out of the way.
* Throw Rugs – All sizes. You need to make sure they’re securely tacked down. Invest in rug tape to tack them down.
* Pet Toys – Always make sure the pets toys are picked up and put away.
* Kid’s Toys – Same as the pets…keep those toys put away when the kids are done playing with them.
* Shoes – Take your shoes off and store them in an out-of-the-way place. Never leave them laying out.
* Flooring Issues – If you have damaged ceramic tile, hardwood floors, carpeting, etc. get it fixed!
* Keep Floors Clean – Don’t allow spills and messes to linger. Clean up and dry spills immediately.
* Pets – Know where your pets are when you’re walking around your home. Train them to not get underneath your legs or to jump up on you while you’re walking.
* Socks – If you’re going to roam around your home wearing socks…make sure they’re anti-skid socks.
* Footwear – Wear shoes that are firmly attached to your feet. Clogs, slide-on slippers, etc. can easily fall off and cause tripping.
* Stairs and Steps – Keep them cleared at all times with proper handrails installed. Keep handrails tightened.
* Lighting – Make sure your home has proper lighting, especially at night. Keep multiple nightlights on to help you see if you happened to get up in the middle of the night. Don’t like light all night? Try motion-activated nightlights. Especially your pathway from bedroom to bathroom.
These are just a few things that can pose a tripping hazzard in your home. I found that the physical therapist and occupational therapist were great sources of information to help my home be safer. Trips, slips and falls can cause serious injuries, especially in our golden years. Do everything you can to eliminate a hazzard to make things safer.