Handy checklist will help Swindon’s older people to avoid falls

With older people staying indoors more, due to concerns about Covid and with winter creeping in, Bluebird Care Swindon has issued a home safety checklist to help keep people safe.

The handy list pinpoints the most common hazards and suggests ways to remove or mitigate the risk of falling. According to NHS statistics, around one in three adults over 65 who live at home will have at least one fall a year, and about half of these will have more frequent falls.

The bathroom is one particular area of risk, and the checklist suggest installing grab rails, and using non-slip mats. Putting items in easy reach can also help prevent over-stretching and toppling over.

Bedroom safety includes using a raised mattress, so the bed is easier to get off and on, nightlights and having an easy to reach torch and telephone.

There is also advice for safety in the kitchen, such as bright lighting and wiping up spills which could cause slips. In the living room area, suggestions include securing loose mats and avoiding clutter; and – if there are stairs – installing a sturdy handrail.

Katrina Simms, Operations Manager at Bluebird Care Swindon, which provides care at home services, said: “We’ve developed a home safety checklist to help our customers and older people in general to take care at home by identifying potential risks. This list identifies most of the common hazards that could cause falls. Homes come in all manner of shapes and sizes, but they all have potential trip hazards which need addressing.

“With worries about Coronavirus and the changing weather, people are staying home and indoors more and more, so it is really important that their environment is as safe as possible.”

The checklist is available via the Bluebird Care website, at https://www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/useful-information/19448/home-safety-checklist.

Bluebird Care Swindon offers a realistic alternative to residential care by allowing people to stay in their own homes with care and support. The support can involve one or more short visits a day, extending to longer calls, depending on the customer’s needs.

The team are currently recruiting for more carers to join, and full training is provided. For more details about Bluebird Care Swindon visit https://www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/swindon or phone 01793 239 499.