Slip and fall prevention
Use a stable chair of the correct height
Choose a stable chair that lets both feet rest flat and provides armrests for standing.
Why it matters
A chair that is too low, too high, folding, or wheeled can cause loss of balance.
Wrong action
Unsafe: Giving an older person a low sofa, folding chair, or wheeled chair.
Correct action
Choose a stable chair that lets both feet rest flat and provides armrests for standing.
What to do
- Check the area and equipment are stable before use.
- Choose a stable chair that lets both feet rest flat and provides armrests for standing.
- Check that feet rest flat, armrests are secure, and the chair does not wobble. Set up the safety measure for the actual user's ability.
If something happens
After a fall, do not rush to lift the person; call 999 for possible head, neck, back, or hip injury or inability to stand.
Sources and review
- Department of Health, Elderly Health Service — Fall Prevention
Source checked: 2026-08-20
This page provides general home-safety information and does not replace medical, legal, electrical, or other professional advice.
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