Environmental checklists

Home hazard assessments and modifications alone may not reduce falls. However, there is some evidence to suggest falls can be reduced when assessments are targeted to those with an increased risk of falls and conducted by a trained practitioner (such as an occupational therapist), with modifications made to the person's living environment.

Given that many falls occur in the home, with most falls occurring in the bedroom or living area, ensuring that the home environment is safe is important, not only to reduce falls but also to minimise serious injury. Health practitioners and service providers need to work with seniors, their carers and families to ensure that seniors see recommendations for environmental modifications as relevant and necessary. This may help improve compliance with recommendations.

Listed below are home safety checklists that seniors can use to conduct an assessment of their home. If a number of hazards are identified a formal assessment (through local government services, or occupational therapists at a community health centre or in private practice) may be warranted.

To reduce falls away from the home environment seniors need to be encouraged to report public hazards to the appropriate authority (eg local government, shopping centre management etc).

To assist you the following information has been included.

• NSW Health - Your home safety checklist: take steps to prevent a fall

• Falls prevention booklet