12 Bedroom Safety Tips For Seniors

All American’s have a desire to live independently in their homes for as long as possible.  But for many older American’s the consequences of a preventable fall forces many seniors to move into assisted living facilities or nursing homes.

According to the National Council on Aging, one in three people who live at home over the age of 65 suffers a fall each year, and this number increases to one in two by the age of 80.  Fall-related injuries are often serious enough to result in hospitalization and even premature death; moreover, those who fall often face significant declines in mobility and independence.

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Falls are often due to hazards that are easy to overlook but are easy to fix. This checklist will help you find and fix those hazards in your bedroom.

1. Avoid bedspreads, bed linens and draperies that reach the floor in order to keep feet from getting tangled. Before getting out of bed look at the floor and make sure pillows or blankets have not fallen down onto your walking path.
2. Nightstands should be sturdy and able to support your weight should you need assistance with standing and balance.
3. Make sure the bed is the appropriate height. Beds that are too high or too low can cause you to fall. The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund recommends beds should be 20 to 23 inches high from the floor to the top of the mattress.
4. Before getting out of bed, sit on the edge of the bed with both feet flat on the floor. Take a minute to make sure you’re not experiencing any dizziness and your balance is good before standing.
5. Wear supportive slippers that have non-skid or rubber soles whenever you are walking.
6. Remove carpet or use carpet tape to secure the edges of carpet and area rugs to prevent rugs from slipping, buckling or turning up in the corners.
7. Check to make sure all electrical cords are safely tucked behind furniture to prevent tripping.
8. Place a sturdy chair in the bedroom to sit on while getting dressed.
9. Make sure lamps are easily accessible so you don’t need to walk around the room in the dark.
10. Place a nightlight in the bedroom and bathroom to illuminate the walking path and avoid trips or bumps in the dark.
11. Keep pets out of the bedroom to make sure they don’t get underfoot and cause a fall.
12. Keep clutter in the bedroom to a minimum and never leave laundry baskets, shopping bags or boxes on the floor in your walking path.

Adjustable beds can be a welcome addition to any bedroom but may be particularly helpful for seniors. The ability to raise and lower the head makes it easier for some people to get in and out of bed.  Easy Rest adjustable beds can be installed at a variety of heights for individual safety and side rails can be attached if needed.

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Our beds are made for use in the home and when placed in the flat position they look like any traditional bed.  The users current head or footboard can be attached to the base allowing for a seamless transition with the owners current furnishings. Our adjustable mattresses are made to the exacting standards of today’s consumers and compare to all of the top brands on the market today.

To learn more about the many benefits of adjustable beds, or to download our catalog, simply fill out the form to the right.

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