Medically reviewed by Kena Kuwera, PT, DPT, Injury Prevention Program Coordinator, Fall Recovery Navigator, Center for Injury Prevention and Policy, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical System.
Whether you’re thinking about downsizing or getting a jumpstart on spring-cleaning, decluttering your home might be on your to-do list. But did you know that clearing out unwanted items can benefit your health?
More than mere eyesores, those piles of objects, stray shoes and loose cords are real-world tripping hazards. For older adults in particular, removing clutter is a critical step in lowering the risk of falls and protecting their long-term independence. Each year, many people trip and fall over common household objects, leading to bumps, bruises, broken bones and other serious injuries.
The Facts About Fall Risk in Older Adults
If you’re 65 or older, you’re part of one of the fastest-growing demographics in the United States. By 2030, all members of the Baby Boomer generation will be classified as “older adults.” As they reach this stage of life, maintaining independence is a key goal.
Often, that includes staying comfortably in their own homes, but it’s important to make the home a safe environment. One way to do that is by removing clutter, which poses a significant fall risk.
Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults, leading to more than 3 million visits to the emergency room and 38,000 deaths in 2021 alone — and they’re common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls affect 1 in 4 older adults in the United States at least once each year.
Tips for Decluttering Your Home
You may have many reasons for decluttering your home, but when the goal is to lower fall risk, there are specific steps you can take to create a safer space. These tips can get you started:
Clear the Floor
It makes sense, but when you’re creating a clutter-free home, you want to start by giving yourself a safe place to walk. Focus your initial decluttering efforts on floors, hallways, stairs and other areas where walking safely is challenging.
For many people, books, newspapers, magazines, shoes, and shopping bags are among the items that occupy valuable floor space. Those objects often end up there on their way to where they actually belong, so put them away or find a space for them that’s not at your feet.
You might consider adding storage space, such as a shelf or cabinet, near your entryway or stairs to hold items that you previously would have put on the floor.
Do a Cord Clearout
These days, electronic devices are everywhere, which means cords are, too. Most people have multiple cords for every device, leaving cords dangling from electrical outlets and USB plug-ins — and posing a tripping hazard. Cords should never dangle on or near the floor where you walk.
Take time to organize your cords. Put away cords that aren’t in use and use shorter cords when you can. Also, consider installing power strips just above your counters. This puts outlets at a more convenient height and keeps unruly cords off the floor.
Reconsider Your Floor Decor
If you have rugs in your home, it might be a good time to consider whether they’re necessary. While they may add a fun aesthetic to the room and keep your feet warm, they can also cause you to trip if they aren’t well-adhered to the floor.
If you still want to keep rugs in your home, replace them with larger rugs that are more likely to stay put, or add a rug-gripping layer underneath that’s designed to keep them in place. You should also check any carpeting to make sure it’s still firmly fixed to the floor.
Improve Your Lighting
Many falls result from poor lighting, so it’s important to ensure your home is well-lit. Tabletop clutter might obscure table lamps, and items on the floor or stairs could block floor-level lights if you have them. Removing unnecessary items from surfaces and walkways could brighten a room, and you might find opportunities to add more lamps or light fixtures that help you see more clearly.
As you declutter, don’t forget the outdoors. You may want to add motion-sensitive lights in entryways and along walkways to make sure you can see where you’re walking. In addition, get rid of or store objects that are hard to see when it’s dark.
Key Takeaways
Decluttering your home can do more than simply make it a little cleaner — it can also make it safer. Falls are common among older adults, and they often occur in the home.
Cleaning up around your home and making a few changes can help you remove tripping hazards and lower fall risk. These changes can go a long way toward keeping you safer and on your feet.
Take a Fall Prevention Class
The world-renowned R Adams Shock Trauma Center offers monthly courses to help community members prevent falls. Learn more at umm.edu/fallprevention.