How to prevent falls in your Ithaca home

Catching your foot on a power cord or sliding on an unsecured rug might seem minor to many, but they can be devastating for seniors. In reality, falls are the leading cause of injury for people over 65. If you are a senior or a relative caring for a parent or grandparent, find tips on how to prevent falls in your Ithaca home, and see how innovative smart homes can boost safety.

Simple tips to prevent falls

Straightforward precautions will help a great deal in keeping you or a family member safeguarded. With that being said, you also have to take a big-picture approach and think about any health conditions that could elevate your fall risk.

• Check for hazards around your home. Keep clothing, papers, boxes, and other random objects off the floor. Anchor rugs. Ensure walkways are free of power cords.
  
  
• Install safety features. Simple home improvements like safety bars in bathrooms and handrails next to stairs can make a noticeable difference. If you use steps, supplement your railings with slip-resistant treads.
  
  
• Choose sensible shoes. Unsupportive slippers, heels, flip-flops, and worn-out shoes with no tread left elevate the chance of falls. Find shoes that fit well with good support and non-skid soles.

Seek guidance from medical professionals

Aside from the basic precautions like keeping your floors clear, you need to think about your health and seek guidance from a medical professional. Certain medical conditions and medications can increase your fall risk. Keep your routine healthcare appointments and vision tests, and make sure you understand the possible side effects of new prescriptions.

Staying active is also vital to maintain your strength, balance, and flexibility. Stay on a regular exercise routine approved by your doctor. While exercise is essential, you can also eliminate unnecessary activity and make your life easier with a smart home.

Add safety and convenience with a smart home

Constantly getting up and down to switch lights on or off, secure your door, or change your thermostat isn’t necessary. A smart home is able to help! Here are some examples how:

• Smartphone access: Leading smart homes can be controlled by smartphone apps. You can adjust lighting and thermostat levels, secure your doors, and even arm your security system from any location. 

• Voice control: You don’t even have to use your phone! Connect your home’s security to a smart speaker like Google Home or Amazon Alexa, then just say an instruction to control devices like locks and thermostats.

• Home automation. Want to make life even more effortless? You can set custom automation actions and allow your devices to activate automatically. Set a scene at day’s end and have your lights lower, security arm, thermostat adjust, and doors secure automatically.

In the worst-case scenario of a fall, a medical alert that connects to your smart home monitoring team can be critical. A quick press of a button can request assistance immediately at times when every moment counts.

Live safer and smarter in your Ithaca home with Vivint

Lower the risk of falling and enhance your safety with a Vivint alarm system in Ithaca. Smart home tools like voice control and home automation are a great fit for seniors and others with mobility restrictions. Add a medical alert to your smart home and get instant access to monitoring specialists when you need it most. Place a call to (607) 600-9658 to design your system today.