Providing an ambulatory senior with a safe walkabout area is important to maintain and increase his fitness. Seniors benefit from walking programs and require a safely maintained walkway. For adults 73 years and older, falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths, according to the National Safety Council. Both slips and trips lead to falls and injuries including sprains, strains, bruises, scrapes, cuts and fractures. Reduce these risks through proactive identification of hazards and corrective maintenance.
Indoor Checklist
According to the National Floor Safety Institute, flooring accounts for 55 percent of slips, trips and falls. Choose floors and finishes rated as slip resistant. Clean spills immediately as wet floors are slip hazards. Remove unstable furniture and provide sturdy handrails along walls to give support if the walking senior becomes unbalanced. The National Safety Council recommends removing loose area rugs, repairing lifted carpet edges and taping down electrical cords to eliminate tripping hazards. Use bright lights for walkways as many seniors have low vision.
Outdoor Checklist
Irregular walking surfaces are a hazard, and a ridge as small as 3/8 of an inch can cause tripping. Repair walkway areas that have heaved because of tree roots, frost, ground settling or age. Paint the borders where height changes, such as curbs or steps, with high contrast yellow paint. Provide adequate lighting from dusk to dawn. Finish wooden surfaces with sanded paint to improve traction. In northern climates, according to "Outdoor Falls" published by Purdue University, slips are a threat in the morning, after ice thawed during the day refreezes at night. Maintenance checks should be done first thing in the morning and throughout the day. Direct downspouts and drains away from walkways. Purdue University recommends using ice-melting chemicals as well as generous use of sand to improve friction.
Human Factors
Medications, illness, poor eyesight and muscle weakness can impair vision and balance. Provide walking attendants for seniors with a fall risk. When venturing outside, have the senior use winter grip-tips on canes and walkers and recommend slip-resistant footwear. Improper footwear accounts for 24 percent of falls, according to the NFSI. Request that pet owners use short leashes -- long leashes create a tripping hazard, as do pets that jump up on an unsteady walker. Vision impairments caused by cataracts and eye disease alter a senior's depth perception and visual acuity. In transition areas from inside to outside, provide seating so the walker can rest while her eyes adjust to the lighting change.
