7 Fall-Prevention Fixes Older Iowans Can Make Before the First Ice

If you use a cane, an ice tip can make it a lot steadier on winter sidewalks.

Older Iowans still have time to make fixes like that before the first ice.

Here are the fall-prevention fixes older Iowans can make before the first ice.

Note: This is general information, not medical advice. Guidelines are subject to change, so talk to a doctor about your situation.

1. Railings on Both Sides of Steps

To prevent falls at home, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says to put railings on both sides of stairs.

Its home checklist adds that each rail should be as long as the stairs.

If your front steps have a rail on one side or none, hire a contractor to add the missing side.

Walk up to each rail you already have.

Shake it hard.

Tighten or replace any rail that wiggles.

2. Brighter Lights Outside Your Door

Brighter bulbs outside your door are a fall-prevention fix you can make this week.

Add more or brighter bulbs.

Put a fixture over any step that sits in the dark.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) puts lights over stairways and by outside entrances on its list for winterizing your home against falls.

An Ohio State University Extension office tells you to turn on your porch light before you leave home in the early evening.

That way, your steps are lit when you come back after dark.

3. Fixing Loose or Uneven Steps

Preventing falls on your front steps means fixing any step that’s loose or uneven before the first ice.

The CDC says many cold-weather injuries come from falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways and porches.

Walk your steps and front walk in daylight.

Look for chipped edges, tilted slabs and splintered boards.

Patch a chipped edge yourself, or have a contractor replace a rotted board.

Ohio State’s extension office warns about leaf-covered steps, decks, porches and sidewalks in autumn.

Sweep them clear.

4. Rock Salt or Sand on Steps

Rock salt or another chemical de-icing compound is a fall-prevention fix for ice on your steps and walkways.

Sand may reduce the risk of slipping on walkways.

NCOA calls cat litter an easy, affordable way to add grip on slick surfaces.

Carry a small bag, and toss a handful ahead of you.

Stock up now.

Keep a bag by your door.

5. Traction for Your Shoes

Winter footwear is a fall-prevention fix you can buy before the first ice.

If you use a cane, NCOA says to attach an ice gripper tip with spikes on the bottom.

Iowa State University’s safety office says footwear made of rubber and neoprene composite provides better traction than plastic and leather soles.

Products with abrasive soles or cleats, such as Yaktrax, add special traction on snow and ice.

Take them off indoors.

6. Snow Removal Help

Staying off the ice is a fall-prevention fix, and the CDC says walking on ice is extremely dangerous. Iowa Health and Human Services (HHS) lists snow removal under chore assistance.

The support services page describes chore assistance as heavy household tasks such as yard work, mowing and snow removal.

Your Area Agency on Aging can give you current information on the services in your community.

If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, the CDC says to follow your doctor’s advice about shoveling snow.

Call before the first storm.

7. Nonslip Rugs at the Door

Iowa State’s safety office says to remove snow and water from your shoes when you enter a building, and a rug is where it can end up.

The CDC checklist says to remove rugs, or use double-sided tape or a nonslip backing so they won’t slip.

Press your foot against the edge of the rug at your door.

See if it slides.

If it does, tape it down or swap in a rug with a nonslip backing.

Get rid of anything you could trip over near that rug, such as a pile of boots.

How Common Falls Are

Iowa HHS says falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among Iowa adults 65 or older.

On that page, the rate of deaths from falls among older Iowans rose steadily from 2009 to 2019.

The CDC says more than one in four older adults falls each year, but fewer than half tell their doctor.

Falling once doubles your chances of falling again.

The national fall death rate for older adults rose 21% between 2018 and 2024.

In 2024 that meant about 78 deaths for every 100,000 older adults, up from about 65 in 2018.

If you fall and hit your head, see your doctor right away to make sure you don’t have a brain injury.

Help With Home Modifications

Iowa HHS has a home modification page for the kind of home changes covered above.

It defines the term as changes made to a home to make daily living easier, lower the chance of accidents and support independence.

The page has sections on how to get started, hiring a contractor and funding the work.

Iowa HHS lists grab bars and ramps among physical household items that may be available to older adults on a limited basis.

Six Area Agencies on Aging cover all 99 counties.

If you can’t tell which agency covers your county, call the Iowa Aging and Disability Resource Center.

The number is 1-800-779-2001.

You’ll speak to a system navigator.

Clinics and Classes

Beyond your front door, the Iowa Falls Prevention Coalition has a goal of expanding falls screening across the state.

Iowa HHS co-chairs it.

Its list of evidence-based programs you can look into includes A Matter of Balance, Stepping On and Bingocize.