Falls are a big deal to anyone involved in senior living environments—and one that will continue to grow as the boomer generation ages and the population in general lives longer.
More than 2.4 million over the age of 65 were treated in emergency departments for injuries from falls in 2012, and from 2002 to 2012, more than 200,000 Americans over 65 died after falls, according to the article “A Tiny Stumble, a Life Upended,” by Katie Hafnernov in The New York Times.
The Times recently ran a series dedicated to the topic of falls and aging. It included profiles of seniors whose lives had been dramatically altered after a fall as well as a number of videos that allowed the reader to see through the eyes of a senior interacting with such everyday objects as steps in a hallway, a shower stall, and a white toilet seat (See “Bracing for the Falls of an Aging Nation,” also by Hafnernov.).
I found the videos both fascinating and alarming—it was clear that certain everyday designs, such as white toilet seats or non-contrast flooring, are not distinguishable to the aging eye.
I can’t imagine the mental effect that would have day after day—or in the middle of the night—when all you wanted to do was confidently walk down the hall or go to the bathroom.
The articles addressed ideas for seniors to avoid a fall—such as being cognizant of the side effects of certain medications and taking exercise classes to improve mobility and balance before a fall.
There was also a much-needed discussion about design’s role in falls prevention. A few ideas were shared, such as eliminating throw rugs, placing a stripe at the top and bottom of stairways to indicate the final step, or installing floor lighting that automatically turns on when a resident gets out of bed.
One San Francisco-based retirement community, The Sequoias, was highlighted for some of its falls prevention measures, such as high-contrast lips on the shower edge and replacing white toilet seats with black ones. The article points out, however, that at first residents complained that the black seats were ugly and institutional, until they realized how much easier they were to see.
This illustrates one of the challenges designers, architects, and owners face when designing and caring for seniors. Certain design features or safety measures, such as that easier-to-see toilet seat or even a walker, aren’t always welcomed for their safety benefits. Rather, they can be met with resistance, anger, or as “another sign of aging.”
How can design help overcome this challenge? If every residence and public area in a senior living community used a high-contrast black toilet seat, then everyone would get the safety benefits. And someone's "regular" seat wouldn't have to be taken away or replaced after a fall because these safety measures would already be the design norm for everyone.
What design factors would you like to see become standard in senior living environments?
