April is National Occupational Therapy Month: How to stay independent and safe in your home | The Standard Newspaper – Waukon Standard

by Tami Gebel, Occupational Therapist, Veterans Memorial Hospital

April is National Occupational Therapy Month. During this month of celebration, the occupational therapists at Veterans Memorial Hospital want to remind community members of ways to stay safe and independent in their own homes and most importantly, how to prevent falls.

Occupational therapists who work in hospitals often are referred to assist people who have fallen at home. A fall at home could result in fractured arms or legs, not to mention multiple bruises and tarnished pride. Often, many of these falls could have been prevented, had the people taken precautionary steps to make their homes safe and clutter free.

Here are a few suggestions to prevent falls at home:

1) Remove obstacles to make clear walkways between rooms.2) Have dim lights on at night to help see the way from the bedroom to the bathroom.3) Use a bath tub bench to sit on during showers or baths to prevent falls in the tub.4) Remove all throw rugs in hallways and in doorways.5) Install banisters on both sides of staircases.6) Avoid storing items on high shelves that require the use of a stool to obtain.7) Do daily activities at a moderate or slow pace; hurrying often leads to trips and falls.8) Wear shoes or rubber soled slippers when walking in the house.9) Do not sit in chairs that have wheels on the base.10) Always carry a cordless phone or have Life Line installed.

If you have any questions or want more information, please call the occupational therapists at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-5528.

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April is National Occupational Therapy Month: How to stay independent and safe in your home | The Standard Newspaper - Waukon Standard