Falls are the number-one reason the families we serve first call us – usually the week after one happens. Most falls at home are preventable, and most prevention is unglamorous: lighting, footwear, clutter, and honesty about what has gotten harder. Here is the guide we walk through with families.
Room by room
Bathroom (where most falls happen)
- Grab bars in the shower and beside the toilet – not a towel bar, an anchored grab bar
- Non-slip mat inside and outside the shower; consider a shower chair
- Raised toilet seat if standing up is a push
Bedroom
- Nightlight on the path to the bathroom – most night falls happen on this route
- Phone or alert button reachable from the bed
- Bed height: feet should rest flat on the floor when sitting on the edge
Kitchen and living areas
- Move daily-use items to waist-to-shoulder height – no step stools
- Remove or tape down throw rugs; clear walking paths of cords
- Sturdy chairs with armrests beat soft, low couches for getting up safely
The non-room factors that matter just as much
- Medications: ask the pharmacist or doctor to review for dizziness-causing combinations – this is one of the most overlooked fall causes
- Footwear: shoes with backs and grip, even indoors; socks-on-tile is a fall waiting to happen
- Vision: updated glasses and an annual eye exam
- Strength and balance: ask the doctor about a referral to physical therapy or a community fall-prevention class – even 10 minutes of daily sit-to-stand practice helps
- Hydration: in Texas heat, dehydration-related dizziness is a real and seasonal risk
When prevention means another set of hands
If your parent has fallen, nearly fallen, or started ‘furniture surfing’ from handhold to handhold, the home fixes above still matter – but supervision during the risky parts of the day (bathing, mornings, nights) is what actually changes the odds. That can be a personal assistance caregiver, companion visits, or respite so the family caregiver is rested enough to be safe. If they have Texas Medicaid, STAR+PLUS may cover those hours – here is who qualifies.
Questions about your situation? Call Newport Home Health at 972-602-3500 — we serve Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, and the consultation is free.
