Fall Prevention in Care Homes: Reduce Risk, Avoid Neglect, and Improve Safety

While these moments seem unexpected, many of them can be prevented. Proper planning allows you to avoid falls or at least  reduce scrambling after a fall. It’s about making a safer, steadier environment to keep residents strong, spot risks sooner, and create protective surroundings. When we stay ahead of the fall, we protect residents physically and build their confidence and independence. PCH Mutual would like to help you prevent falls in your facility and reduce the risk of resident fall injuries, which can be a warning sign of neglect. 

Building Strength

Ironically, you can prevent falls by keeping residents moving. Strong muscles and good balance can steady a wobble before a fall. It’s not about turning residents into star athletes – it’s about giving them strength and confidence to safely get out of a chair or stay steady in the shower. Simple, regular movements can help improve coordination and sharpen reflexes to stay upright. 

Walking, light stretching, and balance exercises can go a long way. Even low impact activities like tai chi and chair exercises can boost stability and body awareness. Training their legs and core is key for keeping residents on their feet. More costly options could include hiring a physical therapist. Even having residents use light weights or resistance bands in a safe and monitored setting can be very impactful to their physical health. 

These steps are not only important for fall prevention–they also help caregivers avoid being accused of assisted living neglect, which may lead families to consult a lawyer.

What matters most is consistency. Long periods of sitting can chip away at someone’s strength. Keeping residents active throughout the day, in small ways, is one of the most powerful, proactive prevention methods caregivers can use. 

Building a Safer Living Environment

Even the strongest resident is at risk if their surroundings are not safe. Creating a clean, hazard free environment is a smart way to prevent falls before they happen. 

Make sure floors are clear of any tripping hazards – cords, clutter, and even rugs. Add nightlights or motion sensor lights throughout hallways and stairwells if the lighting is too dim. Regularly check for spills on the floor and move furniture to create wider walkways. Consider bigger investments like installing grab bars by toilets and tubs, non-slip mats and even shower chairs for residents who need extra help. Adding ramps can also improve mobility throughout your facility. Check out our Youtube series to learn how to declutter spaces. 

Falls in care homes often occur because of overlooked environmental hazards, which in some cases can be seen as assisted living neglect and abuse. Safety is about creating a comfortable and secure space where residents can move around with confidence. 

Invisible Risks

Not every fall risk is something you can see. There are invisible factors that occur  inside the body. 

A big part of keeping residents safe is communication, i.e. staying in close contact with healthcare providers and family. Certain medications can cause dizziness or sleepiness, which might cause a fall. It’s important to make adjustments, such as time of medication administration, before there’s a problem. Managing chronic health conditions is also crucial. Knowing how to control heart problems, diabetes, neurological disorders, etc. can help steady a resident. Communicating with residents about these issues can help make the caregiver and the resident more alert and prepared. 

Failure to monitor or address these risks might fall under what is considered neglect in an assisted living facility, especially when a resident experiences repeat or unexplained falls. To inform your facility on how to communicate better with residents and families, check out our previous blog: The Importance of Fall Prevention and Communication in Long Term Care

These hidden details can quietly shape how safe and steady someone feels day to day–staying on top of them is very important. 

Proactive Technology

Technology has come a long way when it comes to keeping residents safe. Things like motion sensors and fall detection devices alert staff when a resident moves on their own. It gives caregivers a chance to step in before a slip turns into a serious fall. 

Elopement technology can add another layer of security. Installing motion sensor lights is a great way to start. Furthermore, devices like GPS-enabled wearable devices, custom shoe insoles with air tags, door sensors, and boundary alerts help keep residents safe within designated areas. It gives residents freedom and dignity, while families and caregivers can have peace of mind. Full-scale facility monitoring systems offer even greater oversight but are more expensive.

These tools make it easier to catch potential problems early and act quickly, creating a safer environment for everyone. 

Conclusion

Fall prevention isn’t always about reacting to accidents – it’s about supporting residents and making them feel safe and cared for. It’s the small, proactive steps we take every day, building strength, improving living spaces, communicating, managing health and staying aware through smart technology. 

Facilities that ignore these steps could face serious consequences. Families may assume neglect and report  to regulators or attorneys. If you’re wondering, “Are care homes required to document falls?”–yes, in most states, serious injuries and patterns of falls must be documented and often reported to the state. PCH members can use their free member benefit, CareChron, to assist with this documentation.