​Living at home, if you have limited mobility, can become a huge challenge.  As many people become advanced in years, they often are no longer able to get around as they used to, it can even be difficult to move around their own homes.  Many elderly persons are injured each year at home due to slips and falls, so what are some ways of preventing this from happening?
 
If you have an elderly loved one living in their own home, here are a few suggestions: have a walk through the home first and think about areas where someone with limited mobility might have a problem.  The bathroom is a high-risk area for slipping and falling accidents.  Check that there are enough grab bars around the bathroom.  You also want to make it as slip resistant as possible with rubber backed mats and anti-slip mats in the bath tub. 
 
Another area is phone cords or electrical wires stretching over walk through areas, these can become an easy trip hazard, not to mention fire hazard in the case of electrical corded appliances.  Can you fix these cords against a wall to keep them out of the way? If that’s not an option, maybe rearranging the furniture so that cords are closer to electrical outlets would be a good idea. 
 
Other high-risk areas of the home are staircases.  It is a good idea to have sturdy handrails on both sides of the stairs.  Rugs and carpeting are another trip hazard, particularly if they do not have proper rubber backing or if the carpet becomes loose.
 
As you look around the home you will, no doubt, observe other areas that need adjusting.  The above suggestions are a good start towards accident prevention for our elderly loved ones.

​We always take the time to carry out our inspections with a great deal of care and attention.  There are some areas of the home, however, where some extra caution is necessary.  The under-home crawlspace is one such area.  If you consider the kind of environment down there, its not hard to understand the need for caution.  Its dark, usually damp and generally goes undisturbed for long periods of time.  All this makes it the perfect place for all types of hazards.  Let’s consider a few of the hazards you might find:
 
The first thing that will probably come to most of your minds is; will I find any animals down there?  The truth is a under house crawlspace is an ideal home for a variety of creatures.  Some of those creatures could be poisonous or become dangerous if they feel cornered or threatened.  The problem is made worse due to a lack of maneuverability down there which makes a quick exit difficult.
 
Other health hazards that are usually found in a under house crawlspace are mold and fungi as the conditions are generally ideal for it to grow.  You could also find standing water and sewage.
 
What should you do if you suspect the house has some structural issues? This makes the under-home crawlspace especially dangerous and its important to have a professional inspect the home for you.  If it becomes necessary for you to enter a crawlspace, make sure you take every precaution.  Wear protective clothing and gear and make sure someone is aware of your location so that they can raise the alarm if you become trapped for any reason.  Yes, it’s always best to be extra cautious when entering a under home crawlspace.