It is very common for adult children, relatives and friends not to grasp the many common risks for the elderly and those with Parkinson’s. We have talked about vision being a factor increasing the risk of falling. We also discussed a feisty independence, so how would you introduce black toilet seats? First response is “they looked ugly”. Remember we are changing a lifestyle to be pro-active and prevent falls. We also talked about vision being a major factor in falls. The black toilet seat is a stark contrast against the white toilet which gives a much better visual than a white seat. If a small adjustment was made that would decrease the risk of a fall wouldn’t you do it? The most dangerous area where most falls occur is the bathroom. You may want to measure bed height, toilet height and do an evaluation for the need for grab bars. Be pro-active not re-active. Another small change would be the lip on the shower edge to black against the white tile because the contrast with the rest of the bathroom makes it more visible.

If you have stairs they are a particular hazard. The carpeting on the stairs should not be a uniform color. You may want to consider adding a wide white accent stripe installed at the top and bottom so one could see the line clearly, even with blurry, yellowed vision and limited depth perception.

Carpeting is fine, and softer for absorbing a fall if it happens. But it needs to be able to accommodate the Parkinson’s shuffle. As for the evenness of surfaces, an eighth of an inch is our threshold for tripping danger.

Here are some tips for maintaining a quality of life, not falling, and being safe at home.  Some simple things to remember, small changes that could have a major impact on your life bearing in mind that a fall presents issues you don’t want to deal with. Wear shoes with some type of nonskid soles, do not, repeat do not wear house slippers. The lighting in the house is so very important, I cannot stress that enough so you can see things which could cause you to trip. Do not put things on the floor as this is a potential for tripping and falling. Make sure if your family or friends bring things in to the house they are aware of this. Example I had a client with Parkinson’s whose brother brought a case of bottle water and placed on the floor next to the kitchen. Guess what, a fall and a broken wrist. Have grab bars in the bathroom, shower or tub and toilet area. If needed in the hall ways as well as the bedroom. Don’t use throw rugs, the bath mat is a potential to cause tripping, tape or tack down the carpet edges. Use night lights in the bedroom, bathroom and hallways. If you have stairs put hand rails on both sides. Do not under any circumstance climb on a stool or stepladder to get something. Ask someone they will be happy to do this. Remember a fall could have a tremendous negative impact on the quality of the rest of your life. Wax your floors with non-skid wax, don’t wax your floors as they become slick and presents the possibility of slipping and falling. It isn’t worth the risk. Do some outside maintenance and have sidewalks and your walkways repaired. A crack or uneven surface is a presents a risk for a fall.

In the home too, there are certain adjustments that can protect against falls. Specifically, the use of adequate lighting and contrasting wall colors can help, as can the choice of patterns to follow in floor tiles or rugs. At the same time, it is good to eliminate glare and clutter, which can be distracting and dangerous.

In the bathroom, the use of non-skid surfaces, as well as the installation of grab bars, can reduce the risk of falls. Getting in and out of the bath and bed can be less cumbersome when a steady heavy chair is used. Raised toilets and low beds also help to reduce injuries when getting up and down.

It may be helpful to place furniture close together so while walking, there is a “touch path” that allows the person with PD to touch furniture to initiate movement, but does not impede the stride. Other tips are to properly maintain — and properly use — such ambulation aids as hand rails, grab bars, canes, walking sticks, wheeled walkers, scooters and wheelchairs. And one more tip: in selecting footwear, be sure to favor safety over beauty.