How can I prevent falls and make my home safer as I age?

Falls are one of the biggest avoidable triggers for needing long-term care, which makes fall prevention some of the highest-value, lowest-cost planning you can do. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 in 4 adults age 65 and older falls every year, falls send roughly 4.5 million older adults to the emergency room annually, and about 319,000 are hospitalized for a hip fracture — an injury that frequently ends someone's ability to live independently. Falls also cost the U.S. health system more than $50 billion a year in medical care.

Reducing hazards at home

The California Department of Aging's consumer guide to long-term care highlights several changes that meaningfully cut fall risk, most of them inexpensive:

• Remove throw rugs, which are a common and easily avoidable tripping hazard.
• Add grab bars in the bathroom — by the tub, shower, and toilet — and use non-skid bath mats.
• Improve lighting in hallways, staircases, and entryways; older eyes generally need brighter light to see hazards clearly, so aim for more light with less glare.
• Fit staircases with sturdy handrails and non-slip treads on every step.
• Consider moving a bedroom to the ground floor if climbing stairs becomes difficult.
• Use a timer or automatic shut-off on the stove, or rely on a microwave when home alone, to reduce fire risk from a forgotten burner.

If you live alone

A phone kept within easy reach — including at the bedside — and an emergency-response device (a wearable pendant, clip, or watch that signals for help at the press of a button) can be the difference between a fall being a scare and being a crisis. Many hospitals and community programs offer low-cost emergency-response devices; commercial medical-alert services are another option.

Why this matters for your long-term care plan

A single fall-related hip fracture is one of the most common events that turns "someday" long-term care planning into an urgent, unplanned need — which is exactly the scenario a long-term care plan is meant to protect against. Home-safety changes reduce the odds you'll need care sooner than expected; they're not a substitute for having a funding plan in place.

General information only. This is educational and not insurance, legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules and products vary and change — confirm the specifics with a licensed professional.