The thought of falling can be scary for many elderly people that still live in their home.
They want to be safe while traveling to the kitchen, bedroom or bathroom, but don’t want to be monitored 24/7 or need an assisted living community. 
If falling worries you, there are some things you can do to ensure safety and help with fall prevention options. As a senior citizen, you need to be more careful and wear proper footwear at all times.
Doctor Appointment
The first step should be to talk with your doctor about potential falls and what to do about them. Your doctor can help you create a fall prevention plan, but you may need to answer some questions. They will probably ask you what medicines you’re taking, which can include OTC options, prescriptions, supplements, and vitamins. You can choose to make a list or bring the bottles with you to the appointment. This question is important because many medications have a side effect that could make it easier for you to fall.
They may also ask you about previous falls and will want to know details. You should mention where you were when you fell, what you were doing and what you were wearing. You may also be asked about times where you almost fell but didn’t.
Sometimes, health conditions can cause you to fall, such as ear and eye disorders. Therefore, the doctor may want to talk with you about any conditions you have or think you may have. He or she may run tests to ensure that you don’t have new illnesses that you were unaware of until now.
Exercise for Seniors
It may seem strange, but exercise can help prevent falls. Certain activities can be done, which helps strengthen the bones in the shins. Most people don’t think about the shins, but over time, those muscles don’t get used as much. This can cause you to “shuffle” your feet, which could cause you to fall.
Your doctor may recommend some exercises, such as Tai Chi, which is a gentle exercise routine that involves slower and more graceful movements that look like dance moves. Other options can include water aerobics for the senior citizen and walking.
Sometimes, building up those walking muscles can help prevent falls in the future, but even if it doesn’t, you still need to exercise and keep your body moving as much as possible.
If you need to refrain from exercise because it could cause you to fall, you need to talk with your doctor about creating a new program that allows you to exercise in a chair or a closely monitored place, such as a gym or a clinic.
Proper Shoes
The shoes you wear will have an impact on your feet and body. Wearing heels can make you feel as if you’re toppling over and could cause you to get off balance. Flip flops and floppy house slippers can also make you feel less balanced and could cause you to fall.
Shoes with slick soles, such as some tennis shoes, can make you stumble or slip, so you may need to get non-slip or non-skid shoes.
Some elderly people prefer to go barefoot or walk in socks, but this can be dangerous. Unless your bathroom and kitchen are carpeted, you may want to consider house slippers with a good tread or skid-resistant socks.
Remove Potential Hazards
Everyone’s home has some hazards that could lead to a fall, so you want to consider what those are and remove them if possible. Electrical and phone cords could cause a fall, so make sure they aren’t in a place you will walk through. Boxes and newspapers can also cause you to fall over them or slip on them.
Coffee tables, plant stands, and magazine racks should be in a place where you won’t need to talk, such as next to the couch or underneath a table. You may also want to remove extra rugs or make sure you tack them down, so they don’t have the potential to move when you step on them.
Anytime you have anything loose, you could fall, and this includes carpeting, floorboards and floor coverings. Make sure everything is secured to the floor or have it removed.
It may be best to use nonslip mats in the bathtub, and you may want to consider the ones that adhere to the bottom of the tub. You may also need to change your bathtub and use a walk-in tub or use a shower chair.
Adequate Lighting
Better light can help you see obstacles, so it’s best to turn on the lights before walking into a room. Even though you probably know your house like the back of your hand, you should be able to see everything first.
If bright lights bother your eyes, you can also consider using lamps within easy reach, night-lights in the hallways and bathroom or install a dimmer switch so you can choose the setting you need.
If you live in an area that regularly loses power, you will want to keep flashlights within easy reach, no matter where you are. Many hardware stores offer flashlights that can be plugged into the wall socket. You can use them as night lights, or just keep them charged for when you need them.
Safety Devices To Assist the Elderly
You may need to update the house a little and include hand rails for the stairways, non-slip treads for wooden steps and grab bars in the bathroom, such as by the toilet and in the shower.