The products and items we have at home are generally intended to keep us comfortable and safe and/or facilitate the activities of our daily lives. Some of these products, however, may present some risks, especially for the elderly who can be living with vision, balancing and/or mobility limitations.
Most Hazardous Items for the Elderly
In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), thousands of elderly Americans experience unintentional falls and accidents at home each year, with about 1 in every 4 of these injuries resulting in more serious damage, including hip fractures and head injuries.
Looking to pinpoint which items contribute to most home accidents for the elderly in the U.S., researchers at HealthGrove analyzed nearly two decades of injury reports collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). And here are the top five products they identified as presenting the biggest risks to the elderly at home:
- Flooring and flooring covers, which can cause slip/trip and falls and which can be particularly dangerous to those with mobility issues – More than 385,000 older Americans are hurt in accidents involving flooring materials each year in the U.S.
- Stairs, which can be especially risky when railings are loose, rungs are uneven or broken or elderly individuals have balancing issues – More than 187,000 elderly Americans are hurt in stair accidents each year.
- Beds, which can be problematic for aging people with weaker leg muscles, as getting into or out of bed can lead to falls – Close to 100,000 elderly Americans are hurt in bed-related accidents each year.
- Seating items, which (like beds) can be particularly problematic for aging individuals with weaker leg muscles and/or balancing issues – Just over 81,400 elderly Americans are injured in seat-related accidents each year.
- Wheelchairs, which ironically are supposed to aide people but that can end up causing accidents when moving to/from wheelchairs – Nearly 63,000 elderly Americans area injured in wheelchair accidents each year.
While researchers acknowledged that some of these items are essential fixtures in homes, identifying them – and understanding how they can present risks to the elderly – can be key to reducing the risks and keeping elderly loved ones safe at home.
Contact a Denver Personal Injury Lawyer at Cederberg Law
If you or a loved one has been injured by dangerous or defective consumer product (or medical device), contact a Denver personal injury lawyer at Cederberg Law to find out more about your best options for financial recovery.
Since 2011, our esteemed legal professionals have been successful at securing results and compensation for people who have been seriously injured by various forms of negligence.
To meet with us at no cost or obligation to you, call us at 303-499-0449 or email us using the form at the side of the screen. In addition to offering free initial consults and contingency fee options, our lawyers make hospital visits to ensure that you have access to the legal support you need – whenever you need it.
