Fall Prevention for Older Adults

Improving Independence in the Home Environment: Assessment and Intervention

Bathroom | Bedroom | Medications | Kitchen | Living Room | Telephone | Steps | Home Management | Safety | Leisure

Medications

Problem Potential Intervention
Difficulty reading label
  • Large print on prescription label
  • Use magnifying glass
  • Good lighting
  • Bar code and scanner with voice input (AISI, Inc.)
Memory loss
  • Automatic pill dispensers
  • Organize in envelopes with time and date
  • Houseclean all old medications

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.

Bathroom | Bedroom | Medications | Kitchen | Living Room | Telephone | Steps | Home Management | Safety | Leisure

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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: 26 July, 2010

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