Mrs. Smith is a 78-year-old retired teacher who lives by herself in an apartment. She has two children and four grandchildren who visit her often. She also likes to socialize with other residents in the building and uses a walker to ambulate to the rec room where she is often found playing cards. She wears glasses and does not see well even with her glasses, and often does not turn on the lights.Mrs. Smith likes to read, and often has several books on the go at once. Ten books are ordered from the library each week so books are piled on the floor and scattered throughout the apartment.Mrs. Smith also enjoys sewing, and supplies are on the kitchen counter near the stove.On the living room floor there is a beautiful sheepskin rug, along with a braided rug in her kitchen she made many years ago. The bathroom has a soft towel rug.Mrs. Smith is always cold, so to prevent drafts keeps a rolled up towel under the hallway door and has boarded up her windows with cardboard.Home care provides homemaking services twice a week. At least once a week the CCA finds a burner is in the on position. Mrs. Smith has high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and arthritis and she takes medication for all three.

Today you are going to be making a home visit to Mrs. Smith. Your role is to observe Mrs. Smith's home environment and determine if she is at risk of falling.

Questions to answer:

1. List 10 fall risks for Mrs. Smith in this situation.
2. Are there any risks you cannot eliminate? How will you decrease these risks?
3. How would you attempt to eliminate risks?
4. Are there any risks for you as the CCA? Explain?