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What is one way friends, family, or pets in the home can create unintentional fall hazards?
Leaving items on the floor (shoes, clothing, pet/child toys)
Not cleaning up spills on the floor
Pets running underneath your legs while you are walking
If you are using a walker or wheelchair, what is one way you can transfer food or water from the kitchen to the table?
Use a walker basket or tray in your lap
What should be in the bathtub or shower to prevent a fall?
Tub bench or shower chair
Name 2 fall hazards you may encounter when moving from the car to the pharmacy
Curbs, uneven terrain, parking lot obstacles, weather hazards (rain, ice, leaves, snow)
What is an assistive device that can help with your mobility?
Wheelchair, walker, cane
What is a piece of adaptive equipment that can help you with getting dressed?
Reacher, dressing stick, shoe horn, sock aide
What should you have in the kitchen in case of a fire?
Fire extinguisher
Name one fall hazard in the bathroom
Slippery/wet floor
When entering a community building with your wheelchair or walker, what should you look for to make it easier to get inside?
Ramps with handrails
Curb cutouts to avoid having to step up/down
Accessible door entry buttons
True or false: placing your feet far in front of you can help you stand up easier
False
Name 2 fall risks you could encounter in the living area of your home
Loose rugs/carpets that cause a tripping hazard
Electrical cords/phone chargers that cause a tripping hazard
Unstable furniture that moves when leaning/holding onto it
When opening the oven, where should you stand with your walker or wheelchair?
To the side of the oven door, NOT directly in front of the oven
What is one piece of adaptive equipment that can help with getting bathed?
Long handled shower sponge
What is an outdoor hazard that may be present during the current season?
Winter: Ice/snow
Fall: Early darkness (low visibility), uneven ground hidden by leaves
Summer: Loose outdoor water hoses, pools with wet/slippery surfaces, hot pavement
Spring: Wet/slippery sidewalks, muddy pathways
Sitting for a long period of time can put you at risk for skin breakdown or pressure injuries, what can you do to reduce the pressure from sitting?
Shift your weight side to side every 15-30 min
Use wheelchair cushions to distribute pressure evenly
Take standing breaks if you can
When you go home from the hospital, you may get tired more easily. What are 2 ways you can preserve your energy during the day?
*HINT: Pacing, prioritizing, planning, positioning
Take breaks between daily activities to conserve your energy
Prioritize and do most important tasks first and delegate other less important tasks to family or friends
Sit instead of standing when completing cooking, dressing, and bathing
Identify 2 areas in the kitchen that may be unsafe
Sink: Wet or slippery floors can be a fall hazard
What locations in the bathroom would grab bars be helpful?
By the toilet, shower, or tub
What are 2 alternative modes of transportation you could use if you are unable to drive yourself to an APT or event?
Senior/community shuttles or public transit
Family, neighbors, or friends
Uber/Lyft
Is it okay to pull up from your walker to stand?
NO
What plans could you put into place in the event of an emergency while you are home?
Use a life alert
Keep a phone nearby/on you at all times
What is one way you could reorganize your kitchen to make it more accessible
Move commonly used items to counter top/waist level versus up in high cabinets/low level cabinets that are difficult to reach
Sit down while bathing using a shower chair/tub bench
When going up stairs or a curb, what foot should you go up with first? What foot should come down first?
If you drop something on the floor, how can you pick it up safely while sitting in the wheelchair?
Use a reacher!