Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living.
For the month of November, Fall Prevention Month, our O-Tip series will concentrate on preventing falls at home and in the community.
Falls are the leading cause of injury among older Canadians with 20-30% of seniors experiencing one or more falls each year (Statistics Canada). With seniors most falls often happen when someone is just trying to go about their day by having a shower, coming down the stairs, or taking a leisurely walk.
This week’s O-Tip of the Week returns to the bathroom, which can be the most dangerous room in the home, especially for seniors. Transitions into and out of the tub or shower are often the cause of falls in the bathroom. The installation of grab bars in the tub or shower can greatly reduce this risk. An Occupational Therapist can help by assessing the older adult’s functional status and reviewing the hazards in their environment that may put them at risk for falling.
Learn more helpful fall prevention tips for older adults from our infographic: An OT Knows How to Help Seniors Age in Place.