Once you start having trouble using stairs, it seems like you encounter them everywhere you go. They’re fairly easy to sidestep in public buildings where elevators are an option, but they’re a lot harder to avoid in your own home. Unfortunately falls are the top cause of injury for seniors, so using the stairs as safely as possible is of the utmost importance.
Seniors fall on stairs for a variety of reasons, but health, environmental, and behavioral reasons the most common. Health factors include reduced vision, weakness, drowsiness, loss of balance, and an inactive lifestyle. Nonexistent or defective handrails, poor lighting, and substandard tread surfaces are all environmental factors that can lead to a fall. Behavioral factors include lack of concentration, carrying objects while using stairs, and unsuitable footwear.
Luckily, there are a number of ways to combat the causes for falls and make your stairs safer to use:
Clear the Deck
Keep the top and bottom of stairways clear of loose rugs — they’re a tripping hazard. Clear your stairway of any objects (such as books, shoes, etc.) and make sure that any furniture on landings doesn’t block the pathway.
Light ‘Em Up
Stairs should never have lower illumination levels than adjacent areas — that’s just a recipe for disaster. Use lowglare overhead lighting and install a stair lighting kit to ensure each step is distinctly visible. Verify there are light switches at both the bottom and the top of the stairs, and if not, have them installed.
Tread Lightly
If your stairs are made of a smooth material (wood, painted, tile, etc), install rubber or abrasive treads or anti-slip tape for proper footing and grip. If your stairs are carpeted, be sure the carpeting is securely installed and not sagging or loose. The carpet should be tight against the nosing of each step. No matter what your stairs are made of, if the nosings can’t be clearly seen, paint a contrasting color stripe on each tread.
Hold On
Handrails are strongly recommended — in fact, it’s suggested they be installed on both sides of the stairwell when possible. Position handrails at adult elbow height and attach them securely to walls and posts. You should be able to put your entire weight on the handrail without damaging the handrail, wall, or post. An adult must be able to wrap their hand completely around the handrails. Extend the handrails the full length of the stairs — including beyond the top and bottom.
Keep an Eye on It
Proper lighting won’t be much help if the reason you can’t see your stairs is because your eyes aren’t what they used to be.
When climbing the stairs:
- Remove your reading glasses.
- If you have prescription glasses for distance vision, always wear them when using the stairs.
- Take additional care when wearing bifocal or progressive eyeglasses. Adjust the position of your glasses on your head so you can see the stairs clearly. It’s also a good idea to get your vision checked annually in order to keep up with the changing health of your eyes.
Heart & Sole
Footwear influences balance and the subsequent risk of slips, trips, and falls by altering sensory feedback to the foot and ankle. Walking barefoot, in socks, or in highheel shoes have been shown to increase the risk of falls in older people. Other footwear characteristics such as heel collar height, sole hardness, tread, and heel geometry also influence measures of balance and gait. Because of this, older people should wear shoes with low heels and À rm slip-resistant soles both inside and outside the home.
Take Your Time
There’s no need to rush down the stairs. A phone call or visitor at the door can wait. Be alert, deliberate, and take your time to get down the stairs safely. Hold on to the handrails and be extra cautious when there is a transition between angled, shorter treads on winding stairways, and rectangular treads. At some point in our lives, stairs become an issue for all of us. That doesn’t mean we have to stop using them entirely, it just means taking some extra precautions to make sure we step safely.
This information provided by Deputy MaKenzie Kreiner, Senior Safety Coordinator. Deputy Kreiner promotes safety and protection of older adults through the COA and Cass County Sheriff’s Office.