The bedroom, second only to the bathroom, holds a surprising statistic – up to 30% of falls at home occur in this seemingly safe space. Recognizing this high frequency, I’ve outlined recommendations for creating a safe bedroom setup with the goal of reducing the risk for falls.
NOTE: these are general recommendations; consult with a medical professional for personalized advice. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases mentioned in this post. My recommendations are in bold.
Let’s embark on the journey of crafting the safest possible bedroom.
- Bed Height: the bed height should create a 90-degree angle with your knees when sitting. If too high, you increase your risk of sliding out of bed. If too low, it becomes difficult standing up from bed. To raise the bed height, I recommend furniture risers. To lower the bed height, you can purchase a thinner box spring. Height adjustable bed supports are also available.
- Bed Cane or Railing: Place a bed cane at shoulder height in lying on the side you enter/exit the bed. Opt for a bed railing with ground contact for added stability. However, if you have a bed frame that extends above your mattress, you will need to get a bed railing that only slides under your mattress. With either option, remember that bed canes and railings are not meant to be pulled on to help you stand as the bed and railing can easily move. Only use this for support from the standing position. Railings can greatly reduce your risk for rolling out of bed unexpectedly and is a great way to improve your safety.
- Bedside Lamp: choose a lamp with a heavy base with easy on/off functionality. The lamp should be reachable from the sitting and lying positions in bed. I personally like lamps that turn on/off by simply touching the base which is easily used at night.
- Bedside table: a sturdy, heavy table without wheels works best. Use corner protectors to help further protect against serious injury. On top of the bedside table, place an organizer where essential items such as glasses and hearing aids can be placed so you know exactly where they are when needed in a pinch while also reducing the likelihood of accidentally knocking the items to the ground.
- Closet: If you have a closet, install a sturdy hand rail just inside of the closet. This will provide more stability as you grab for clothes. Then, install a few hooks just outside the closet to hang clothes if you walk with a device and are not able to walk while holding clothes. This then leads into the next item…
- Sturdy chair: In a perfect room, this chair is next to your closet within reach of the hooks mentioned in #5 so you can put on most of your clothes from the seated position and thus reducing unnecessary risk for falls. You also want to keep your shoes next to this chair if room allows.
- Shoe Rack: A vertical shoe rack is preferrable as this takes up less floor space while also allowing less bending forward to pick up shoes from a lower shoe rack.
- Clear Walkways/floors: for any part of the room that can be walked, there should be no tripping hazards. This means no loose cords, loose rugs or general clutter that could cause someone to trip. All cords should be covered and organized to best improve safety in the room. Organize cords along the baseboard using clips as needed.
- Clothes Rack: This is preferrable over a closet due to ease of access. If space permits, a sturdy clothing rack without wheels can be used. Choose a rack that fits the space well and has the railing at a height that is easily accessible without excessive reaching. If reaching is an issue, you can keep a grabber next to your clothes rack to help. Another option is installing a clothing rail onto the wall. This is my personal favorite option as no floor space is taken and clothes are easily accessible.
- Dresser: Pick a dresser that is sturdy and with dressers that are easy to open and close. Put your most worn items in the drawer height that is most easily accessible. This may be the middle drawer if you are typically in a wheelchair or the top drawer if you typically stand. Clothing placement is the most important aspect of this category.
- Technology options: motion detection lighting and night light options can be helpful at night and you can’t easily access light or lamp from your bed.
Thank you for reading. All of these options may not be available to all as each room will have its own specific needs and challenges. However, do your best to implement as many of these as you see fit. The safer you can make your bedroom, the less likely you will experience a fall. This means you can focus more time on the important things in life which I will let you get back to. Go out, stay safe and enjoy your life. Take care!