The Right to Fall and Why Businesses Can’t Afford It

At this year’s LeadingAge Colorado Expo, one conversation stopped me in my tracks.

A speaker challenged the audience with a bold idea, something he called “the right to fall.”
He wasn’t being careless or dismissive; in fact, his point was deeply human.

He said that in senior living, “residents have the right to move freely — even if that freedom comes with risk.”

That statement landed like a stone in water. You could feel the room ripple.

Because while the sentiment honors independence and dignity, it also reminds us how fragile safety can be. One small slip — in a dining room, a shower, or a rehab corridor can change a life forever.

And that’s when I realized something: this “right to fall” doesn’t just live in senior care.
It lives in restaurants, where chefs dart across wet tile.
It lives in hotels, where guests step out of elevators onto polished floors.
It lives in pool decks, gyms, and commercial buildings across Denver and Boulder every single day.

Everyone has the right to move, but business owners have the responsibility to make that movement safe.

That’s why my company, Non-Slip Solutions LLC, exists.
We help protect that balance between freedom and safety through certified slip-resistance testing and invisible non-slip treatments that don’t change the look or feel of your floors.
No coatings, no downtime, no disruption, just science-backed traction where it matters.

Our BOT-3000E Tribometer gives you real numbers (DCOF readings) that prove your surfaces meet ANSI A326.3 safety standards. It’s not a guess, it’s data you can hand to your insurance rep, safety team, or board of directors.

Here’s the takeaway:

The “right to fall” reminds us that risk will always exist.
But as facility leaders, we have the chance to reduce it, not accept it.

Whether you manage a senior living community, a restaurant kitchen, a hotel spa, or a public pool, safety isn’t about limiting movement. It’s about empowering it, confidently and responsibly.

If you haven’t had your floors tested recently, I’d be happy to provide a free, certified slip-resistance test anywhere in the Denver/Boulder area. It’s quick, data-driven, and could prevent the next “what if.”

Final Thought

Hearing that talk reminded me: freedom and safety don’t have to be opposites.
The right to fall may exist, but so does the responsibility to protect the people who trust you not to let them.

Let’s make every step a safe one.

— Garrett Atkinson
Owner, Non-Slip Solutions LLC
“Safe When Wet” | BOT-3000E Certified Testing | Denver, CO