The truth is, you CAN die by falling down! Bob was going up the stairs at home holding items in both hands. They have steep (really steep) stairs and below those are cement stairs. He was calling Sue to come out and help him up from the cement stairs. He was 70. He had broken ribs (3) that punctured organs, spleen, bowel, intestine, and he had choices at the hospital and chose not to have major surgery, but ended up with a colonoscopy bag, sepsis and that's what finally; after 3 weeks in the hospital, did him in. He had been drinking for years and right before this had quit. Sue thinks he had other things wrong internally before the fall. He was a big gangly guy.
My other NH friends (now living in FL) lost her husband about a yr ago and I miss him more than she does cuz he was the only person that called me 3 or 4 times a week. He actually got lonely and thought of me lonely and I miss his calls.
So use hand rails going up stairs or avoid t hem altogether. I have owned step-less houses since my husband died in 2005. German shepherds don't like stairs. Now I don't either. It's scary being alone also. How many on here live alone with few friends? I am not in a safe place (in my head).