Fall Prevention for Older Adults

Improving Independence in the Home Environment: Assessment and Intervention

Living Room

Problem	Potential Intervention
Soft, low chair	Board under cushion Pillow or folded blanket to raise seat Blocks or platform under legs Automatic seat lift chair Good armrests to push up on Back and seat cushions
Swivel and rocking chairs	Block motion
Obstructing furniture	Relocate or remove to clear paths (especially glass top tables)
Extension cords	Run along and anchor to baseboard Under sturdy furniture Eliminate unnecessary cords Use power strips with breakers if possible
Accessing and seeing light switches	Touch sensitive switches Voice activated switches Remote control switches (radio/electronics store) Illuminated wall switches

Note: The interventions described in this assessment serve only as suggestions. A complete assessment of a person’s individual needs should be conducted by a team of licensed and trained professionals. Any intervention or modification to a building must comply with local, state, and federal laws and building codes. In apartments or rental homes, written permission to make modifications should be obtained from the landlord, owner, or property manager. Architectural interventions should be assessed by a licensed architect and carried out by a licensed construction contractor.

Reproduced from: Assessment and Intervention of the Home Environment for Older Persons, Center for Therapeutic Applications of Technology, University of Buffalo, 515 Kimball Tower, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, New York, 14214-3079, phone (716) 829-3141, fax (716) 829-3217. http://wings.buffalo.edu/academic/department/hrp/ot/cat/

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Last updated: 16 September, 2009

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