Let the snow fall, but keep seniors standing.

• Position: Home Accidents

Parents childproof their homes for their offspring's safety; now children are finding themselves in the position to fall proof homes for their mothers and fathers, as falls are the No. 1 cause of injuries, hospital visits, and deaths among those 65 and older. One out of three seniors falls each year. That translates into 2,300,000 older adults being treated for fall-related injuries for direct medical costs of $30,000,000,000.

Yet, falls largely are preventable, maintains Synergy HomeCare, Gilbert, Ariz., which offers its six steps to safety checklist:

* Paint or place bright tape on the edge of steps so seniors can see where one step ends and another begins; provide handrails on both sides of stairs and grab bars in bathrooms; install lights at the top and bottom of stairs and throughout halls; paint the bottom basement step white to make it more visible; secure rugs to the floor to prevent tripping; and attach nonslip strips to the bottom of slippers. Outside, check steps and walkways for loose bricks, cement, or stone.

* Wearing the right type of footwear can reduce the risk of a fall. Slippers may be comfortable and convenient, but they do not provide proper support...