While a slip or a fall might be just a minor accident or inconvenience for some, over 18,000 Americans die annually from slips and falls. This risk of severe injury or death increases with age, as well as conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, spinal deformities or existing injuries. Americans who fall into the “care gap”, which is made of approximately 12,000,000 individuals who need long-term care but do not receive it, are particularly vulnerable to slip and fall accidents.
In response to this need, Koffler Sales Co., a Chicago-area supplier of wall and floor protection supplies, has announced that it will donate $1 from every sale it makes during the month of October to benefit Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. They do so in support of Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week, and in an effort to raise awareness of accident prevention for seniors.
“We believe Lutheran General is an exemplary leader in patient safety and we are honored to have an opportunity to support its efforts to become one of our nation’s premier zero-falls hospital[s],” said Ron Starr, President of Koffler Sales Co, in a release.
In conjunction with this commitment, Koffler offers the following safety recommendations for homes and senior living facilities:
- Handrails and grab bars in bathrooms, or between sleeping and bathroom areas.
- Smooth transition floor trim, which ensures that people do not lose their balance as they walk between surfaces and eases mobility for wheelchair or medical equipment users.
- Grip tape, which can provide extra traction. Glow-in-the-dark grip tape can provide a guide for dark areas.
