Preventing Falls: Why Home Modifications Matter

Falls among older adults are far too common and devastatingly costly. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), one in four Americans aged 65 and older falls each year, making falls the leading cause of both fatal and non fatal injuries in this age group. The financial burden is staggering: in 2020, non-fatal falls among older adults resulted in $80 billion in health care costs, and the annual toll is projected to exceed $100 billion by the end of the decade.

But falling is not inevitable. What often goes unnoticed is a stark truth: most falls can be prevented. Research shows that simple, practical solutions, particularly home modifications, can reduce in home falls by nearly 40 percent.

Entrance to Home

The Power of Home Modifications

So much of the risk lies inside the home itself: A loose rug, a steep porch step, or a poorly lit hallway can all spell danger. By making small but strategic changes, homes can be transformed from hazardous to protective. Grab bars in bathrooms, slip resistant flooring, sturdy railings, and ramps at entrances are lifelines.

The NCOA emphasizes that environment changes, paired with community based support, are key to reducing falls. When older adults live in homes that support their mobility and independence, the risk of injury drops dramatically.

WARM NC's Role: Turning Awareness into Action

At WARM NC, this work is already underway. Through our Older Adult Home Modification Program, we provide modifications that directly address fall risks. Ramps and railings replace hazardous steps, grab bars and raised toilets restore safety in bathrooms, and flooring upgrades eliminate trip hazards. Improved lighting and safety alarms add another layer of protection.

Grab Bar Installation

These may sound like small changes, but for the older adults we serve, they are transformative. One railing can open the door to independence; one grab bar can prevent a fall that might otherwise end in hospitalization.

A Matter of Dignity and Community

For many older adults, staying in their home is about more than comfort. It is about familiarity, independence, and dignity. Yet too often, unsafe environments force premature moves into assisted living, or worse, result in injuries that rob individuals of choice altogether.

WARM NC Homeowner

That's why Falls Prevention Month is more than a public health campaign, it's call to community action. It takes volunteers willing to lend their hands, donors willing to invest in safety, and neighbors willing to look out for one another. When we make homes safer, we do more than prevent falls. We preserve health, protect independence, and affirm every person's right to age with dignity in the place they call home.