One out of five Americans aged 65 and older fall each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most falls occur in their own homes or yards, but don’t worry. Many falls are preventable. A surefire way to keep your senior loved ones safe in your yard is by hiring an artificial turf installer in Santa Rosa.
Backyard Dangers and Health Hazards for Older People
Slip Risks
Slipping on grass is a problem for anyone, but seniors are especially vulnerable. After all, they’re more likely to get broken bones and other injuries from falling.
Entanglement Hazards
A trip hazard is a potential danger for seniors with physical limitations who may have difficulty balancing themselves. Tall grasses, for example, are easy to miss, especially at night, making it easy for seniors to trip over them.
Heat Sensitivity
Seniors are also more sensitive to heat than younger people. Grass causes heat reflection and absorbs heat from the sun, making lawns very hot in direct sunlight.
Skin Irritants
Grass contains chemicals and pesticides that can cause skin irritation. Seniors with sensitive skin can suffer breakouts, rashes, blisters or burns if they come in contact with the chemicals in natural grass lawns.
Allergic Reactions
A large part of the elderly population suffers from asthma or other breathing difficulties. Grass pollens and other allergens in the yard can trigger severe reactions and make these conditions worse.
Insects and Critters
Insects and critters are annoying at best but can be dangerous at their worst. For example, mosquitoes can carry diseases and bacteria, while ant bites can lead to severe allergic reactions for some people and cause rashes for others.
Maintenance-Related Injuries
When seniors are trying to maintain a lawn, they risk slipping on wet grass, tripping over rocks or sticks, or hurting themselves while lifting heavy bags of fertilizer or weed killer.
Ways Synthetic Turf Makes Yards Safer for Seniors
No Holes or Gaps to Trip Over
There’s less of a slip, trip and fall risk with artificial turf because it has no holes or gaps. It provides a consistent, flat surface with no holes or gaps to trip over. This also makes it easy for wheelchairs and walkers to navigate synthetic turf safely.
An artificial turf installer in Santa Rosa can also suggest features that can make yards safer for seniors.
Non-Slip Even When Wet
When your lawn gets wet the blades of grass get slippery and can cause you to lose your footing and possibly fall down. The danger is greater for seniors who often have trouble walking on wet surfaces.
Artificial grass is the perfect solution for this common problem because it doesn’t get slippery when wet. It also doesn’t develop mold and mildew, which tend to leave natural lawns slippery even when it’s sunny.
No Water Accumulation
Rainy weather can create puddles or areas of standing water on natural grass. These puddles can be deep enough to cause falls or make it difficult for wheelchairs to pass through them.
Artificial grass doesn’t develop these puddles because water drains through it without pooling on the surface at all.
Soft and Cushioned
Natural yards contain sharp objects such as sticks and rocks that can cut or poke you if you step on them barefoot or accidentally fall on them. Artificial turf prevents this possibility.
Artificial grass is soft and cushioned, making it a comfortable place to walk, sit and stand. It also offers a soft landing surface in case of unavoidable falls.
Fewer Bugs and Rodents to Deal With
Pests like grubs, moles and other critters find artificial turf inhospitable because they can’t get any food among its synthetic fibers.
Since there’s no natural vegetation present with synthetic grass in Santa Rosa, it doesn’t attract insects either. This means fewer chances of insect bites, which can be painful and even lead to serious reactions in some people.
No More Fertilizer, Pesticides or Herbicides
Chemicals used to treat weeds, pests and fungus can be extremely harmful for seniors to breathe in or absorb through their skin.
Artificial grass doesn’t require any chemicals at all since it can’t grow weeds or fungus and it’s not affected by pests. This will help keep your senior loved ones out of harm’s way.
Easier Yard Cleanup
Many seniors will have a tough time maintaining their lawns due to age and health restrictions. Getting old means that your body can’t do the things it used to do so easily — like mowing the lawn or pulling weeds.
Synthetic turf is incredibly easy to maintain. It just needs regular sweeping, rinsing and brushing to stay in great condition.
Keep Your Elderly Loved Ones Safe and Happy With Artificial Grass in Santa Rosa, CA
Artificial grass is an ideal choice for a yard when you have seniors at home. Real grass hides a lot of risks for older people, from the threat of pests to slippery surfaces. With the artificial variety, however, you get a safe and senior-friendly environment that needs little upkeep.
Ready to turn your backyard into a safe outdoor space for your seniors? Santa Rosa Artificial Grass has you covered.
You can count on our team of synthetic turf experts for beautiful landscapes and hassle-free installations. Call us at 408-723-4954 or contact us online to get a FREE quote on your project!
