Fall Prevention for Older Adults

Improving Independence in the Home Environment: Assessment and Intervention

Steps

Problem	Potential Intervention
Cannot negotiate	Stair glide Lift (Braun Corp.) Elevator Ramp (permanent, portable or removable) Steeper ramp with boat winch Able to bump up/down stairs on rear end in emergencies
No handrails	Install at least one side (check stability)
Loose rugs	Remove or nail down to wooden steps
Difficult to see	Adequate lighting Mark edge of each step with bright colored tape
Unable to use walker on stairs	Keep second walker or wheelchair at top or bottom of stairs

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/

Download the latest version of Adobe Reader® to view and print PDF files.

[back to top]

Last updated: 16 September, 2009

Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.