How to prevent falls in your Gainesville home

Stumbling on an electrical cord or sliding on an unanchored rug might seem minor to many, but these mishaps can be devastating for seniors. In reality, falls are the leading cause of injury for people over 65. If you’re a senior or a family member caring for a parent or grandparent, learn how to prevent falls in your Gainesville home, and see how the latest smart home features can help.

Discover simple tips for preventing falls

Basic precautions will make a big difference in keeping you or your loved one safeguarded. However, you also have to look at the bigger picture and consider any health-related issues that might elevate your fall risk.

• Check for hazards around your home. Keep deliveries, papers, clothing, and other objects off the floors. Tape down rugs. Ensure hallways and common areas are free of power cords.
  
  
• Install safety measures. Standard home improvements like railings next to stairs and support bars in showers can make a big difference. If you have steps, think about supplementing your railings with non-slip treads.
  
  
• Opt for sensible footwear. Unsupportive slippers, heels, flip-flops, and worn-down shoes with slippery soles elevate the risk of falling. Find shoes that fit well with good support and non-slip soles.

Get advice from a medical professional

Aside from the basic precautions like keeping objects off your floors, you need to consider your health and get advice from a healthcare professional. Several medical conditions and medicines can make you more susceptible to falls. Keep your regular healthcare checkups and vision exams, and make sure you understand the potential side effects of your medicines.

Staying active is also essential to maintain your flexibility, strength, and balance. Keep to a daily exercise routine approved by your healthcare provider. While exercise is a must, you can also reduce unnecessary activity and make life easier with a smart home.

Boost convenience and safety with a smart home

Getting up and down repeatedly to adjust lights, lock your door, or reset your thermostat isn’t necessary. A smart home is able to help! Here’s how:

• Smartphone access: Leading smart homes can be controlled by smartphone apps. You can adjust thermostat and light levels, secure your doors, and even arm your security system without getting up. 

• Voice commands: You don’t even need a smartphone to control your devices! Connect your system to a voice assistant, then just speak a command to control equipment like lights and locks.

• Home automation. Want to make life even easier? You can configure home automation actions and let your equipment activate automatically. Set a full scene when you go to bed and have your lights lower, security arm, thermostat update, and doors lock simultaneously.

In the rare event that you fall, a medical pendant that links to your smart home monitoring agents can be critical. A simple press of a button can request support immediately at times when every moment counts.

Live smarter and safer in your Gainesville home with Vivint

Decrease the risk of falling and enhance your safety with a Vivint alarm system in Gainesville. Smart home tools like home automation and voice control are a great fit for seniors and other residents with mobility limitations. Add a medical device to your smart home and get immediate access to monitoring professionals when you need it most. Place a call to (352) 922-3696 to build your system today.