Falling on Stairs

Falling on stairs includes any fall associated with stairs, steps and ramps inside or outside the home.¹ The risk of falling increases with each decade of life. The long-term consequences of fall injuries, such as hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), can impact the health and independence of older adults. Thankfully, many falls can be prevented.²

• An accident is three times more likely to occur on stairs without carpet covering, including those stairs intended to be left uncovered. Uncovered external steps which may become icy or wet, or are uneven and badly maintained, will increase the likelihood of a fall and the severity of the outcome.¹
• The likelihood of a fall is doubled if there is no wall or guarding to one side of the stair. Similarly, the lack of any handrail doubles the likelihood of a fall, even if there is a wall to both sides of the stairs.¹
• Each year, one in every three adults ages 65 or older falls and 2 million are treated in emergency departments for fall-related injuries.²
• The risk of falling increases with each decade of life.²
• The long-term consequences of fall injuries, such as hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), can impact the health and independence of older adults.²

Any fall can result in physical injury, such as bruising, fractures, head, brain and spinal injuries and may even be fatal. The nature of injury is dependent on the distance of a fall, and nature of the surface(s) collided with, as well as on the age and fragility of the person. Although typically the harm suffered from a fall is a physical impact type of injury, the health of an elderly person can deteriorate generally following a fall. Their cause of death within weeks or months of the initial fall injury can be cardio-respiratory illness, including heart attack, stroke and pneumonia.¹

To help prevent health and safety risks due to falling on stairs, see below for suggested actions you can take²:

• Remove things you can trip over (such as papers, books, clothes, and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.
• Install handrails and lights on all staircases.
• Improve the lighting in your home. As you get older, you need brighter lights to see well. Hang light weight curtains or shades to reduce glare.
• Have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year and update your eyeglasses to maximize your vision. Consider getting a pair with single vision distance lenses for some activities such as walking outside.
• Older adults should exercise regularly. It is important that the exercises focus on increasing leg strength and improving balance, and that they get more challenging over time. Tai Chi programs are especially good.
• Ask their doctor or pharmacist to review medicines for older adults—both prescription and over-the counter—to identify medicines that may cause side effects or interactions such as dizziness or drowsiness.

For contact information of partner organizations that might be able to provide help with falling on stairs hazards in your home, visit our Get Help page.

¹U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development: Healthy Home Rating System – Operating Guidance (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=operating_guidance_hhrs_v1.pdf)
²Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Preventing Falls Among Older Adults (http://www.cdc.gov/Features/OlderAmericans/)