Written by guest contributor Mia Carter.
Traveling, shopping, and visiting family and friends during the holidays? These everyday activities and ventures can be especially difficult if you’re disabled, differently-abled, mobility-challenged, elderly, or otherwise prone to trips and falls.
I always joke that I’m not super “portable,” as I use a wheelchair and forearm crutches. Plus, I’m severely osteoporotic due to high doses of prednisone for an autoimmune condition, so a trip or fall is a high-stakes event! I’ve broken arms, legs, my spine, ribs and pelvis from simply falling over. I didn’t fall from a height. My towering 5’2” frame simply topples over and breaks, so staying upright and fall-free is always a big priority. But it becomes exponentially more difficult when you’re in an unfamiliar place with lots of people and/or lots of excitement!
Let’s explore a few tips to help you stay safe during the holidays, whether you’re younger and “portability-challenged,” overly fragile and injury-prone due to a condition such as osteoporosis, or simply older and mobility-challenged.
And don’t forget to pack (or – even better – wear) your Easeability Jacket! The conveniently-placed handles make it easy for a companion to help provide an extra layer of support or slow your fall if you start to go down!
1. Bring Your Smartphone With Lanyard
Make sure you bring your smartphone with a lanyard attached to the case. This allows you to place the phone on the edge of a nightstand, table, or counter with the lanyard hanging over the edge.
If you fall, the lanyard ensures the phone is still within reach.
2. Use Your Phone Like a Walkie-Talkie to Summon Help
Rethink how you use your smartphone. It’s not just good for texts and traditional phone calls. Think of it more as a walkie-talkie that serves as a direct line to a travel companion or caretaker. There are even walkie-talkie apps, but you can manage well without one.
Example: Let’s say you wake up in the middle of the night and you need to use the restroom. But you’re feeling disoriented and wobbly. Lots of sleeping medications cause disorientation and instability. The same can be said for conditions such as dementia, where you “sundown” and become more prone to confusion and imbalance at night.
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Instead of hollering for help and frightening half the household or (dangerously) trying to attempt a bathroom run on your own, your smartphone becomes a wonderful tool.
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You can simply text or call a companion or caretaker in another room when you need a hand.
This way, you avoid placing yourself at risk without disrupting everyone by yelling for help. You’ll also avoid a spectacle of lights and sirens from police cruisers, ambulances and fire engines because you’ve fallen and hurt yourself. Better to get a sleigh ride during the holidays versus a ride in a first responder’s chariot!
3. Make sure your Easeability Jacket is nearby
Not only does it offer a good hand-hold for a companion to help ensure you don’t go down, but it also keeps you nice and toasty. Body temperature naturally drops when we sleep and it’s typical to get a bit shivery on those midnight bathroom runs.
4. Light the Way With Nightlights, a Clip-on Light, and Smart Light Bulbs
Pack a couple nightlights, a portable clip-on lamp, and a couple smart bulbs to help light the way in an unfamiliar location. These lights will dramatically reduce the risk of falls by lighting your path and helping you orient yourself in the dark. Here’s what you’ll need to stay safe:
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2-3 nightlights will allow you to illuminate the bathroom and the path to the bathroom so you have a clear, bright path in the dark.
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Smart bulbs can be used in any fixture, allowing you to use voice commands to turn on bedroom lights without feeling around in the dark for a switch. You simply swap the lightbulbs for your smart bulbs, connect them to the app, and then use voice commands via the Alexa app to turn them on/off as needed. Just remember to take them with you when you go!
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A clip-on lamp outfitted with a smart bulb is perfect if you’re unsure what type of lights will be in your sleeping area. If you’re questioning whether your voice-command-friendly smart bulbs will work, a clip-on light is the solution. This way, you can place a light in any location in your room and you can turn it on without fumbling in the dark for a switch. You simply launch the Alexa app on your smartphone, tell Alexa to “turn on clip-on lamp,” and your light is on. No wandering in the dark required!
5. Slow Down, Take Your Time, and Stay Safe
Excitement and distraction from conversation and the festivities of a holiday gathering can leave you vulnerable to trips and falls. I noticed that I am far more likely to lose balance and even trip and fall when I start talking and engaging in a crowded or bustling environment. I also find myself trying to rush to “keep up” with others. But nothing slows you down like a fall.
So take your time and pause the conversation when you’re in motion. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the moment when you’re at a fun gathering. But you’ve got to focus on your feet first or you’ll find yourself face-to-face with a paramedic telling you, “Your chariot awaits!” as he shuttles you down the walkway en route to the nearest hospital!
These 5 simple steps should help you to enjoy your holiday and stay safe. From all of us at Lucky Dad Adaptive, we wish you a healthy, happy, safe, and dignified holiday season.
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