From Fall Hazards to Friction Points: How to Make Every Home Safer for Aging Adults
Introduction
Every year, more than 14 million adults age 65 and older report a fall in the United States. For many, those falls result in serious injury, and for too many, they are fatal. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among older adults.
That number is staggering, but here’s the good news: most falls are preventable.
A recent article by Louisa Kamps in The New York Times (“Many Falls Are Preventable. These Tips Can Help.”, June 11, 2025) offered practical, evidence-based strategies to reduce fall risk. We are grateful to The Times and Ms. Kamps for spotlighting this important issue and emphasizing how small changes and good habits can make a life-saving difference.
At Access Built, headquartered in Florida and serving clients nationwide, we take this insight a step further. The goal is not just to remove hazards but to remove friction points: the subtle design and environmental barriers that make movement harder, riskier, or less intuitive than it should be. When you eliminate friction, you restore flow.
Why Falls Happen More Often as We Age
As we age, strength, balance, and reflexes naturally decline. Our sensory systems—sight, hearing, and body awareness—also change, making it harder to recover quickly from small missteps.
But aging itself isn’t the problem. The real issue is that most homes weren’t designed for how people actually move and live later in life. Tight corners, low lighting, uneven flooring, and unnecessary steps all create friction points that increase fall risk.
From Hazards to Friction Points
Traditional fall-prevention checklists focus on removing hazards such as throw rugs, cords, poor lighting, and missing grab bars. That is a good start, but it is reactive.
A Friction Point™ Assessment is proactive. Instead of only fixing what is dangerous, it reimagines how spaces can help people move naturally, confidently, and safely.
Examples of Fall-Proofing vs. Friction-Proofing:
Instead of simply removing throw rugs that cause tripping, replace flooring with slip-resistant materials.
Rather than just adding grab bars in the bathroom, reconfigure the layout to provide clear, continuous support surfaces.
Improve lighting by layering it at multiple heights for even visibility, rather than relying on a single overhead bulb.
Go beyond reducing clutter by redesigning storage so essential items are always within easy reach.
The difference is simple. Fall-proofing eliminates problems. Friction-proofing creates freedom.
Simple Steps to Reduce Friction at Home
Map your friction points.
Notice where movement feels awkward, cluttered, or unsafe, especially transitions between rooms, stairs, and bathrooms.
→ Learn more about how we identify these micro-moments in our Friction Point™ Method.Layer lighting intentionally.
Use soft, consistent lighting to reduce glare and shadows that distort depth perception. Check bulb brightness in hallways and bathrooms.Rethink flooring.
Choose slip-resistant, low-gloss materials with minimal height changes between rooms. Remove loose rugs or use non-slip backing.Design for recovery, not perfection.
Add railings, seating, or nearby surfaces to steady yourself if balance is lost. This follows our principle of defensive design, described in Boundless: Real Stories and Practical Strategies for Inclusive Living.Reposition essentials.
Store daily items at mid-range height so there is no bending, crouching, or reaching required.Strengthen the human side.
Programs like tai chi or balance training improve coordination and confidence. Try AARP’s free virtual classes or resources from the National Institute on Aging.
The Bottom Line
We cannot stop aging, but we can redesign how we age.
A fall-proof home is not just one without hazards. It is one that flows naturally, reduces effort, and supports independence at every stage of life.
At Access Built, our mission is simple: remove friction to create freedom.
With roots in Miami, our work now spans cities and communities nationwide, partnering with builders, healthcare systems, and housing organizations to make accessibility a standard, not an afterthought.
If you or a loved one are aging in place, learn how a Friction Point™ Home Assessment can make your space safer, smarter, and more comfortable for years to come.
