Pet ownership is well known to have some great benefits. These benefits include companionship, reduced stress, lower blood pressure, and increased physical activity for older adults.

However, there is a troublesome aspect to pet ownership. And that is a fall risk.

Friends Life Care is proud to have a committee of industry professionals dedicated to reducing falls within our member community. As part of this, the committee has assessed our members’ most lovable, furry risk factors.

Pets Can Increase Risk of Falls

The CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control has estimated that there are thousands of emergency room visits and an average of 86,629 fall injuries each year associated with cats and dogs (2010 data).  The Care Coordination team is well aware of pets as a hazard. This is based on our member’s experiences through the years.

Pets themselves can be a fall risk by tripping, pulling, or even surprising their owners into a fall.   Members may qualify the event as a ‘slip’ on water that was sloshed on the kitchen floor by the dog getting a drink. Similarly, there could be a ‘trip’ over the cat bowls that shifted into the normally clear path in the kitchen.  Many of these slips and falls can be avoided with careful placement and useful products.

Help to Prevent Trips and Falls – Ideas

These simple ideas can help to prevent falls caused by pets. Then owners can enjoy the benefits of being a “fur parent.”

• Training the pet to either walk down the stairs first or after you
• Obedience training
• Matching the activity level of the pet to your lifestyle
• Storing toys in a box or basket when playtime is over so you have a clear path

Help to Prevent Trips and Falls – Products

• Light-up collar or bell on the collar to alert you, or others, that the pet is nearby within the house: Amazon.com : light up collars for dogs at night; light collar – Free shipping | Chewy
• Reflective/light-up leash for walking the dog at night: reflective leashes – Free shipping | Chewy; Amazon.com : light up dog leash for night walking
• Headlamp or flashlight to see a path when walking the dog at night: Amazon.com : headlamp for walking at night
• Snap Power/night light to see the pet on the path to the bathroom or when locking up the house at night:  SnapPower – The Best NightLight in History!; Amazon.com : motion sensor night light
• Raised pet feeding bowls: Amazon.com : raised feeding bowls for dogs; raised feeding bowls – Free shipping | Chewy
• Long handle cat litter scooper/long handle dog pooper scooper: Amazon.com : long handle cat litter scoop; long handle cat litter scoops – Free shipping | Chewy; Amazon.com : long handle to pick up dog waste; dog pooper scoopers – Free shipping | Chewy
• Pet pillow or bed to keep the pet from sleeping on your feet or in the walkway: pet bed – Free shipping | Chewy; Amazon.com : pet bed

 

This blog post was compiled by the Friends Life Care Wellness & Care Coordination team for members and friends. Friends Life Care has no relationship with the companies of these featured products. We share them to spark ideas about what might be useful in caring for your pet(s) while helping reduce the risk of falls.