Worried About Falls? How Home Modifications Can Help You Age in Place

National Falls Prevention Awareness Week, Sept. 22-26, is the perfect time to focus on your safety and well-being at home. You’ve built a life filled with memories and cherished moments, and you want to continue living with confidence in the place you love. However, as we age, a new set of challenges can emerge.

You might find yourself noticing subtle changes: a moment of instability getting out of the shower, or a habit of holding onto walls as you walk through a hallway. These are signs that your home, while familiar, may no longer be as safe as it once was. The fear of an accident, a serious injury or a fall can begin to erode your sense of security and independence.

The statistics are sobering. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in 2023, falls led to over 41,000 deaths among older adults and resulted in more than 3 million emergency department visits. But the impact extends far beyond these immediate events. A single fall can trigger a devastating domino effect—leading to a loss of mobility, reduced independence and a long-term decline in overall health. This is a problem many face, but it’s one you don’t have to face alone.

Your Resource for a Safer Home

At CICOA, we are your trusted partner in creating a safer, more secure environment. We understand the importance of maintaining your independence, and we are dedicated to helping you achieve it. For decades, we have been a resource for Central Indiana’s older adults, providing guidance and support so they can continue to live at home with dignity and confidence. As a proud member of the Hoosier Falls Prevention Coalition, we are committed to raising awareness and advocating for solutions that support fall prevention.

We have a clear and compassionate approach to helping you reduce the risk of a fall through home modifications.

Our Approach:

1. Home Assessment: We begin with a comprehensive home assessment to identify potential fall hazards in your living space.
2. Customized Plan: We will work with you to develop a personalized plan for low-cost, high-impact home modifications, such as installing grab bars, handrails, or other safety features.
3. Professional Installation: Our team will coordinate the professional installation of all modifications, ensuring a quick and professional process with minimal disruption to your daily life.
4. Ongoing Support: We will make sure you know how to use your new modification to ensure the benefits last a long time.

Additionally, we offer educational classes that provide you with the tools and knowledge to prevent falls. We have engaging classes like Stepping On, a 7-week course that teaches balance and strength exercises and helps you identify and remove home hazards. Our Bingocize classes combine the fun of bingo with light exercise and fall prevention education.

Take the Next Step

The time to prepare is now. Falls Prevention Awareness Week reminds us that taking proactive steps can make a world of difference. Don’t let the fear of a fall dictate your future. Instead, take control and empower yourself to live a safer, more secure life at home.

Ready to get started? Visit our Safe at Home service page to learn about the types of projects we do, eligibility and how to begin your own falls prevention plan.