Preventing Falls at Home in Hull & East Riding
There’s no place like home, and feeling steady on your feet is a big part of staying there safely. At Caremark Hull and East Riding, we work with customers and families in their own homes. Our goal is to reduce risks, build confidence and protect independence. This guide: Preventing Falls at Home in Hull & East Riding is designed to help people take sensible action. This guide explains why falls happen. It offers steps to prevent falls at home, details what to do if a fall occurs and shares ways to avoid them in the future.
Why falls happen at home
A combination of home hazards and health factors causes most falls. Common risks include poor lighting, cluttered walkways, loose rugs, slippery bathroom floors, uneven thresholds and stairs without secure handrails. Many incidents occur during everyday activities, like getting out of bed, using the bathroom at night or carrying items up and down the stairs.
Also, health can play a role too. Reduced strength and balance, dizziness from medicines, poor vision or hearing, foot pain and long-term conditions like arthritis, Parkinson’s, stroke, diabetes or dementia all increase risk. Postural hypotension, which is a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing, also plays a role. Rushing due to urgency or fear of falling can contribute too. Some medicines, like sedatives or certain blood pressure tablets, may worsen unsteadiness.
Simple checks can show hazards, like loose cables. They may also find bathrooms lacking grab rails or non-slip mats. Noticing these risks is the first step in falls prevention.
Ways to prevent falls at home
Preventing falls at home starts with simple changes. Create clear, well-lit spaces and make every room safe and easy to move around. Small changes can make a big difference. The goal is clear, well-lit spaces and easy, safe movement around every room.
- Remove loose rugs or secure them with non-slip backing.
- Keep floors free of cables and clutter.
- Improve lighting and use night lights on landings and in hallways.
- Fit sturdy handrails on both sides of the stairs and on the outdoor steps.
- Install grab rails and non-slip mats in baths and showers.
- Store everyday items within easy reach to avoid stretching or climbing.
- Choose supportive, well-fitting footwear with non-slip soles.
Movement matters. Regular strength and balance exercises, like heel raises and sit-to-stand practice, help maintain stability. Aim for frequent, short sessions that suit your ability. Also, keep up with vision and hearing checks. Stay well-hydrated and ask a GP or pharmacist to review your medicines. These steps can help prevent falls at home.
Choosing the right equipment boosts safety and confidence. For example, use walking sticks at the correct height with good ferrules. Adjusted frames or rollators, raised toilet seats and bed grab rails are also helpful. An occupational therapist or our Field Care Supervisors can guide you on what works best and how to use it safely during your assessment.
If a fall happens
Preventing Falls at Home in Hull & East Riding starts with knowing what to do if a fall happens. Stay calm. Check for pain or injury. If you can move, roll onto your side, get onto hands and knees and use a sturdy chair to rise slowly. If you cannot get up, try to keep warm, use a personal alarm or phone to call for help and change position regularly to protect your skin. Avoid standing too quickly as this can cause dizziness.
Call for urgent medical help if there’s a head injury, severe pain, suspected fracture, heavy bleeding, confusion, or if you take blood thinners and have a bump to the head. Even if you feel fine, inform your GP after a fall. They can review the cause, your medications and any need for therapy or equipment.
At Caremark Hull and East Riding, we can set up a quick care review. Our Field Care Supervisors will talk to health professionals and offer short-term care if needed.
How Caremark helps
We create personalised care plans to prevent falls at home. Each plan is tailored to your needs and routines. These may include light exercise support, hydration prompts and working with other health professionals to manage dizziness or postural hypotension. Our goal is clear: keep you steady, comfortable and independent.
What we offer:
- Risk assessments identify current and potential risks in the home, providing advice to help prevent falls.
- Kind and respectful help with bathing, dressing and safe movement.
- Meal preparation to support strength, nutrition and hydration.
- Medication prompts and supports attending health appointments.
- Referrals to occupational therapy and guidance on equipment and simple aids.
Caremark Hull & East Riding is a trusted, local home care service. We support hundreds of people in the region. Our Care Assistants are fully trained and DBS checked. They are guided by experienced managers – so you can trust that your loved one receives safe, consistent and person-centred care.
For friendly home care support, contact our team. We offer personal care, meal preparation and fall prevention. We’re here to help you or a loved one live safely and joyfully at home.