15 February 2008

Survey Shows Deadly Slip and Trip Hazards Common in Homes of Elderly

Archicentre today said thousands of elderly people were living with dangerous slip and trip hazards, which could be fatal or result in serious injury to them.

The survey looked at some 37,000 homes of older Victorians, of which 26% of all homes inspected had slip and trip hazards. This represents an increase of 4% on the last survey done in 2004.

Loose rugs - trip and slip hazards for the elderly

Archicentre, which manages the Home Renovation Service for older Victorians funded by the Victorian Government, through the Department of Human Services (DHS) is urging Victorians to utilise the free home inspections funded by the Victorian Government. This could help them identify and address any potential hazards. David Hallett, General Manager of Archicentre said, "Falls among older Victorians accounted for the majority of home injuries in 2005, including 19% of all deaths and 41% of all hospital admissions*. (Source: Monash University Accident Research Centre). "The main causes of falls are slippery surfaces and uneven floors. But protruding door thresholds, loose rugs and carpet runners can also be hazardous, as well as tangled power and telephone cords." According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the direct cost to the nation's health system to help people aged 65 years and over recover from falls was $566 million. It costs $555 a day to keep an older person in a Victorian hospital. The lifetime cost of fall injuries for Victorians aged 65 years and older is estimated at $199.3 million annually. Mr Hallett said that older Victorians or their children who are concerned about their safety can organise a free home safety inspection funded by the Victorian Government to identify and provide a plan to fix danger spots in the home. Archicentre's Tips on Fall Prevention:   A flat, accessible site is ideal for older residents who gradually lose mobility or balance and risk injury, whilst attempting to negotiate uneven paving or steps

There are more than 930,000 Victorians aged 70 years or over and this number will reach 1.6 million over the next 20 years. This will further increase the need to monitor safety hazards in the home.

People aged over 65 years are at greatest risk of sustaining an injury from a fall. Australian and overseas studies of older people living at home have identified that approximately one in three people aged 65 years and over fall each year, with 10% having multiple falls and over 30% experiencing injuries requiring medical attention. The rate of falls and associated injuries is even higher for older people in residential aged care and acute care settings (Source: National Ageing Research Institute, 2004).

The FREE Home Safety Inspections are funded by the Victorian Government through the Department of Human Services (DHS) for aged pensioners, veterans' affairs card holders and disabled persons. To access the service telephone (03) 9815 1900 or 1300 136 513.

ABOUT THE HOME RENOVATION SERVICE
The Victorian Government has a commitment to assisting seniors and those with disabilities to remain living independently within their own homes and community networks for as long as practicable. The Home Renovation Service was developed to deliver this assistance.

In 1998, the Department of Human Services (DHS) enlisted Archicentre Limited to extend the service and improve the lifestyle opportunities of Victorians. Since then, the Home Renovation Service has completed more than 38,000 inspections in nine years for Victorian homeowners (and tenants since 2006) who are 60 years of age and over and those who have a disability, or are caring for a person with a disability.

The free inspection is designed to help older Victorians remain living independently by identifying what works need to be done to make the home a healthy and safe place to live. A low-interest Home Renovation Loan of up to $25,000 is also available to carry out necessary repairs.

www.archicentre.com.au
Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA)