Fall-Proofing Your Home

Remember when your kids were toddlers and you had to baby-proof your home? I have to fall-proof my house for my daughter because she falls easily.  The two processes are similar, but instead of getting down low to see what they can get into, you need to look up to see what might be dangerous to fall into, and any obstructions that could cause an accident.

We have hard floors throughout our home, which proves helpful when using walkers and wheelchairs but is dangerous for falls. So, in my daughter's room, I covered the entire floor with colored foam squares. These can be found at any super store or home improvement center. I found mine at a yard sale. This way, if she falls transferring from her wheelchair or during one of her tantrums where she head dives into the floor, her fall is padded. It also helps with therapy activities and makes working on the floor more comfortable.

There are many things you can do to fall-proof your home. Here are some of the most important ones I use in our house:

• Always keep the floors and the walkways clear. 
• Make sure all rugs are fastened to the floor to prevent slips or wheels being caught. I use just a little dot of hot glue on the corners of our rugs to keep them in place.
• Be sure that there are no corners of furniture sticking out near the walking paths in the house. That way, when my daughter uses her walker, there are no obstacles she could bump into or get her walker caught on.

Fall-proofing your home is really just common sense. It takes some planning and extra time to set up, especially if there is any moving furniture involved. But creating a safe environment in your home that prevents accidents and injury is so worth it.

Find information on modifying your home and connecting with other parents to share information and ideas.