Simple tips could help more aging Canadians to live at home independently

People who are just starting to feel wobbly on their feet could benefit from making small changes to their home and behaviour to help them stay independent for as long as possible, Canadian experts say.  

Falls are the main cause of accidental death among people aged 65 and older. Making simple changes like adding coloured tape to the edge of stairs, or a grab bar in the bathtub to prevent a tumble could reduce the risk of falling.

Occupational therapists are the go-to health-care professionals to solve problems that interfere with someone's ability to do activities like taking care of themselves and enjoying leisure activities, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) said in its 2021 report on the health workforce.

Marnie Courage, an occupational therapist in Winnipeg, suggests people may get a bigger bang for their renovation buck by focusing on safety in the bathroom. 

"The majority of these falls are happening in or around a bathroom." Courage said in conversation with Dr. Brian Goldman, host of CBC Radio's White Coat, Black Art and The Dose podcast. "Making modifications to a bathroom can have a huge impact on your function and safety."

With the aging population, you may get that money back in the resale of your home, she said.

Courage answered audience questions on preventing and recovering from falls in the home such as how to adjust to wearing bifocals when climbing stairs, why a single handrail doesn't cut it and why walking is a well-rounded way to keep up the strength and balance we need to prevent falls.

Bifocals help with seeing things close-up to read or watch a screen. But if you're moving around, they aren't ideal. 

When we climb stairs while wearing bifocals, the bottom half of our lenses becomes blurry, creating a distortion of where the foot is, Courage said. 

That can make it difficult to distinguish where the "nosing" is — the protruding edge of the stair where you plant your foot. 

"You may misplace your foot or think you're at the edge when you're not, which can cause falls," she said. 

"I would suggest that for folks who have bifocals, especially if you're newly prescribed ... getting used to really using your head to look down at your feet, but first ensuring they've got a stable grasp on those handrails."

Having handrails on both sides of steps will help someone who is weak on one side, such as after a stroke or knee replacement, to successfully walk both up and down. 

"If you've heard that saying, 'That first step is a doozy.' I really think it applies here because handrails should really extend down to level ground at the bottom of the stairs and go above that top stair so that you have some leverage."