Kitchen

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Right at Home | Fall Prevention | Kitchen | Ireland

Reaching/bending for objects on shelves, slipping on wet flooring and getting up from kitchen chairs that slide/aren’t equipped with arm-rest support

Risk Factors	Prevention
High/low shelf/cabinet heights Slippery floor surfaces Unstable chairs Objects on high shelves/cabinets Activity: Climbing on unsteady stools/chairs to obtain items	Place a water-absorbent, non-skid mat in front of the sink Use kitchen chairs with arms to allow elders to sit/stand up more easily Never keep wheeled chairs in the kitchen Avoid storing frequently-used items (e.g., heavy pots and pans) on high shelves or in high cabinets Position cabinet/shelf between elder’s waist and shoulder Consider using a Lazy Susan if cabinet/shelf space is limited Provide adequate lighting Clean up spills immediately Stay off freshly mopped floors Remove sliding throw rugs or secure them with non-slip backing Use a sturdy step stool with a handle for balance support to obtain out-of-reach items Encourage elders to ask for help whenever possible with tasks like changing light bulbs and retrieving things from high shelves rather than relying on the step stool

Risk Factors

Prevention

High/low shelf/cabinet heights
Slippery floor surfaces
Unstable chairs
Objects on high shelves/cabinets

Activity:

Climbing on unsteady stools/chairs to obtain items

Place a water-absorbent, non-skid mat in front of the sink
Use kitchen chairs with arms to allow elders to sit/stand up more easily
Never keep wheeled chairs in the kitchen
Avoid storing frequently-used items (e.g., heavy pots and pans) on high shelves or in high cabinets
Position cabinet/shelf between elder’s waist and shoulder
Consider using a Lazy Susan if cabinet/shelf space is limited
Provide adequate lighting
Clean up spills immediately
Stay off freshly mopped floors
Remove sliding throw rugs or secure them with non-slip backing
Use a sturdy step stool with a handle for balance support to obtain out-of-reach items
Encourage elders to ask for help whenever possible with tasks like changing light bulbs and retrieving things from high shelves rather than relying on the step stool

Download our Falls Prevention Guide

Other Areas of Fall Prevention

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