Did you know that falls are the most common cause of injury among older Canadians? Every year, around a third of Canadians over 65 fall at least once. These incidents can have a range of knock-on effects, including reduced quality of life, chronic pain, hip fractures, and even increased risk of death. Since half of all falls typically occur in the home, we’re going to look at some ways in which Wellwise by Shoppers™ can help you make your home the safest place to be.

Wellwise Home Services

Wellwise Home Services are here to help you feel safe and confident in your home. Our CAPS-certified consultants will perform a home assessment and recommend adaptations you can make to help reduce your risk of falls. We’ll then arrange for our reputable, licensed contractors to come in and complete the installation, and will schedule post-sale follow-ups and maintenance.

The Wellwise Home Services team focuses on the following four areas.

Bathroom Safety

With its hard, slippery surfaces, the bathroom is a particularly high-risk environment when it comes to falls. The Wellwise Home Services team will assess your bathroom and discuss your mobility needs before making their recommendations. They may recommend grab bars beside the toilet, tub, shower, and in any other places where you are more likely to slip. A shower seat or a bath transfer bench can help if you find it hard to stand whilst showering or need help getting in and out of the bathtub. A raised toilet seat might be recommended if you struggle to keep your balance while getting on and off the toilet. And of course, items such as a rubber mat for inside the bath or shower and an absorbent, rubber-backed mat for the floor are no-brainers!

Home Entry

You can also be at higher risk of trips and falls when entering and exiting your home. The Wellwise Home Services team will assess your home’s entry and make appropriate recommendations. They may suggest installing ramps, chair lifts, or handrails depending on your mobility needs. Maintaining your front path and entryway by removing leaves, snow, and ice, can also help make it safer.

Elevators & Lifts

Getting up and down the stairs safely can be tricky for those with mobility issues. Our Home Services team can recommend and install a range of compact residential elevators and lifts to help you move around your home safely and confidently.

Home Comfort

The Wellwise Home Services team will be able to recommend a wide range of additional products to make your home safer and more comfortable. These range from lift chairs to help you get up and down with ease, to bed rails, transfer poles, and adjustable beds.

Contact the Wellwise Home Services team to learn more and arrange a consultation. Please note that Home Services are currently only available in Ontario.

Get tax rebates for home modifications

If you live in Ontario or British Columbia, there are tax rebates available to help you cover the costs of home modifications.

The British Columbia program allows seniors to claim for renovation expenses incurred on or after April 12, 2012, and people with disabilities to claim for expenses incurred from February 17, 2016. The Ontario credit is available for the 2021 and 2022 tax years. 

You can learn more about the tax credits and find out whether you’re eligible at the links below.

• British Columbia home renovation tax credit for seniors and persons with disabilities
• Ontario Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit

It is always recommended to speak with a professional accountant or refer to your local government website for eligibility requirements and full details on a regular basis.

Falls can be a growing concern as we get older and for those with mobility issues, however there are a lot of ways that you can adapt your home to make it a safer place to be. Contact Home Services today for your home assessment and get your own personalized plan to help you avoid falls at home.

The information presented in this blog post is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on any information in this post as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or as a substitute for professional counseling care. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional.

Resources

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-624-x/2014001/article/14010-eng.htm

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/aging-seniors/publications/publications-general-public/seniors-falls-canada-second-report/seniors-falls-canada-infographic.html

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/falls-prevention-seniors-research-healthcare-injuries-1.5012356