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250+ Senior Safety Tips And Ideas On How To Fall-proof Your Home

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Over the last 2 1/2 years, my mom has unfortunately slipped, and fallen twice. Luckily, Mom has not really seriously hurt herself, although this last time she has bruised her ribs, and it has dented her confidence a little. Mom’s hip replacement though, thankfully, was not dented, and came through brilliantly ! I have though taken measures replacing a few items and making some items non-slip.

So what can you do ? Here are some ides, and my mega-checklist for making your home fall proof.

 

How to Fall Proof your home ? To all proof your home you need  –

 

  • bright lighting
  • grab bars and safety rails
  • accessible switches – also at any easy height to prevent over reaching
  • non-slip surfaces
  • decluttering
  • make frequently used items easily accessible
  • use corner protectors
  • remove all tripping hazards – tacking down carpets and stair treads
  • clear entrance ways
  • do not put furniture in front of windows and curtains which make them hard to open

Here’s an in-depth look at what you can do – with over 250 examples of steps to take !

 

General strategies

 

Before going headlong into the list of tips, I just want to outline some areas which can help a lot with preventing falls.

 

Working with your elderly parent’s routine

 

Find out what your parent’s routine is and then try and work with that –

  1. Do your parents have a clear routine that they are happy to stick to ?
  2. Can a caregiver be with your elderly parent at the following times of the day to either help, or watch (even if they are doing something else nearby) ?

 

  • Getting uptime
  • Shower or bathing time (this is the most important as 80% of all falls occur in the bathroom)
  • Breakfast
  • Exercise time
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Bedtime

 

3. Could a caregiver prepare meals for your parent ?
4. Could a caregiver prepare a tray with the utensils and cutlery your elderly parent will need, if your parent still wants to do their own cooking?

If you can just implement a few of these points, you will be able to reduce a lot of the risks in the kitchen, bathroom, and the bedroom. And all of that without any devices.

 

Get some really bright lighting ?

 

Don’t forget that your eyesight diminishes with age, and anything that can make it easier to see will help with fall prevention.

You should get some good bright lighting for the whole of the home, but especially for the route from the bedroom to the bathroom, or wherever it is your elderly parents want to go in the night.

Good lighting helps to reduce falls drastically, helps with reading, so you can avoid mix-ups with medications, and identifying where the edges of steps and stairs are.

For people with impaired vision, edges and shapes can be difficult to distinguish, making steps particularly difficult to deal with if they are not well lit.

 

Drinks and snacks station

 

After my mom had her hip replacement I made a small area with a kettle, water bottles, coffee tea and milk, and all within comfortable reach of where she was sitting.

This meant that mom could maintain a little independence even though she could hardly walk.

This idea can be applied for anyone who has mobility problems. Just keep any electrical cables away from any areas they can get caught on.

I would only suggest this with the elderly, if they are safe to operate a kettle without harming themselves.

You can buy small kettles, or kettles which have a tilt and pour mechanism, if it is only a question of strength causing a problem, and not of mental ability.

The kettle can be replaced by small thermos flasks, or cold drinks if hot liquids are too risky, or you can make hot drinks in thermos cups.

I would only do this if the elderly persons in question have serious difficulty walking, as the short walks, for those who can walk, are beneficial to their health.

If your parent is a little unsteady but wants to walk to the kitchen to get snacks and drinks, there are indoor walkers with trays attached to them, allowing a person to carry items on the tray as they use the walker for support.

 

Call Buttons and Pagers

 

Call Buttons coupled with Pagers are only of use, if your elderly parent thinks to use them.

These do not monitor activity, a person has to press the button to signal to you on the pager.

If your loved one can remember to use the call button, it’s a great device that just sends the caregiver a signal on a pager, who can immediately go to their assistance.

If you are worried they won’t remember, then it won’t work for you.

The Call Buttons are generally a pendant worn either on the wrist, or around the neck, which sends the alert to a Pager which can be carried around by the caregiver.

This system is very useful during the daytime for call assistance, so it may make sense for you, in a lot of cases, to have both a Call Button and Pager System, as well as one of the other systems for nighttime alerts.

In most cases, the Call Buttons and Pager systems are cheaper than the other setups that I’ve listed.

If you want to know more about pagers and call buttons, I have an article about the different types of devices, including call buttons, pagers and bed alarms that you can use to monitor, and help your parents at night, to prevent falls on the way to, and in the bathroom.

I have a number of these different devices and have found that they can be very helpful. You can find the article here.
 

Mobility Aids

 

  1. Does your parent have a mobility aid for getting around the house ?
  2. Have you looked at rolling walkers, called Rollators ? There are narrow indoor models to help the elderly with their balance.
  3. Would a mobility aid such as a cane or a walker be helpful ?
  4. If your parent has a mobility aid such as a walker, does it have a tray ?
  5. Walkers, as well as the Rollator style models, come with only two wheels, and with no wheels at all – so there are a few to pick from.

 

Use a Fall Prevention Checklist

 

Make a checklist of all the things you can do to make it safe for the elderly walking around in your home, and then act on it.

Get rid of unnecessary clutter, electric cords that stick out, rugs which can trip, make sure smooth floors have some kind of anti-slip protection etc.

If you haven’t seen your parent in a while, it’s a good idea just to spend a few days with them in their home to see how they’re getting along.

It will help you with identifying the areas where your parent is having difficulties, or is vulnerable.

Look up Fall Prevention Checklists on Google to get more ideas – there is a ton of free information out there, provided by care homes and other medical practitioners, and all for free.

I combined a bunch of fall checklists to make mine, and added in what I think are just some pretty common sense things as well.

Fall Prevention Checklist

 

Medications

 

  1. If a person, and especially an elderly person, is taking medications, this may have an effect on their balance ?
  2. If a person’s balance is being badly affected by medications, check with their doctor.
  3. Make sure that elderly parents know how to take their medications.
  4. Some people need to take medications for their balance to improve.
  5. If remembering to take medications for balance is an issue, you may wish to consider a Digital Medication Distributor, which will remind the elderly to take medications with an alert system.
  6. Is your parent suffering from dizziness at all ?
  7. Hypotension – low blood pressure – can cause dizziness, so have blood pressure checked by your doctor.

 

Shoes

 

  1. Are your elderly loved one’s wearing decent footwear ? This is vital to not falling – no slippers which aren’t on properly, and that aren’t attached at the back.
  2. Wearing shoes indoors will give good, solid support, much more so than slippers.
  3. If your parents ankles are weak, do they have ankle boots – this will help prevent their ankle from turning, and your parents from falling.
  4. If your parents have bunions, do they have shoes to help with this ?
  5. Do your parents’ shoes have Velcro straps ? These are much easier for people with weaker hands to take on and off.
  6. If your parent’s toes have problems and are rubbing, you could do what I did and take a pair of shoes and cut away the toe of the shoe. Now there is no rubbing at all.
  7. If there is foot swelling, are the shoes stretchy ? Stretchy shoes can help a great deal for feet which swell.
  8. Do the shoes come from a shoe store for the elderly ? You can get shoes for the elderly in extra width sizes.

 

Mobility Aids

 

  1. Does your parent have a mobility aid for getting around the house ?
  2. Have you looked at rolling walkers, called Rollators ? There are narrow indoor models to help the elderly with their balance.
  3. Would a mobility aid such as a cane or a walker be helpful ?
  4. If your parent has a mobility aid such as a walker, does it have a tray ?
  5. Walkers, as well as the Rollator style models, come with only two wheels, and with no wheels at all – so there are a few to pick from.

Entrances to House

 

  1. Are there rails at the entrances to the house if there are any steps ?
  2. Does the front door have a peephole at the right height ?
  3. Does the front door have a video bell ?
  4. Are there potential tripping hazards ?
  5. Can you clearly see and reach any doorbell there may be ?
  6. If you have any decks or porches around your exterior doors, do they have railings to prevent people falling off ?
  7. If you have a porch, is the surface in good shape, with nothing sticking up which people can catch their feet on ?
  8. Is there a non-skid surface if there is a porch ?
  9. Do you have proper exterior lighting around your exterior doors ?
  10. If you have mats, are they flat ?
  11. Does any mat have non-skid backing ?
  12. Does the doorway have a frame lip which can cause tripping ?
  13. If you have to step up a little into the entrance way, do you have a grab bar, or handrail, so that a person can steady themselves after stepping up ?
  14. Does your doorway have enough room to open for mobility aids – walkers, Rollators or wheelchairs ?
  15. Especially for turning around and locking the door ?
  16. Make sure you don’t have loads of coats hanging behind the door, restricting how far it will open.
  17. Do the doors themselves have the handles, knobs and latches at an easy height, and are they all well oiled and easy to use – lever handles are far easier for seniors to turn ?
  18. Make sure your doors don’t stick.
  19. If you have door springs, make sure that the elderly have time to go through before the door starts to close and push on them.
  20. Remove any rugs from the entrance hallways which may be too high, and cause tripping.
  21. If you do want to have rugs in the entrance way, maybe just tack them down, so the edges don’t cause a hazard.
  22. Entrance hallways are very often used as a storage area, so make sure that there are no items getting in the way – don’t keep lots of shoes etc. up against the edges of the hallway, as these will be lethal.
  23. Is there a light switch right next to the door as you come in so that the hallway can be brightly lit ? And is it at a good height ?
  24. Do you have a light switch at the other end of the hallway for turning off ?
  25. Could you install a light with a motion sensor so that when the elderly come in through the entrance, the lights come on automatically ? – they will have one less thing to think about as they are trying to maneuver through the entrance of the house.
  26. If you do install a sensor for the lights, you can set them to turn off automatically as well.
  27. Make sure the lighting is bright enough, as a lot of elderly adults have visual impairments.
  28. If there are wall sockets, are they at a good height ?

Family Rooms – Living Room etc

 

  1. Is there enough lighting ?
  2. Do you have switches all over, and are they at a good height ?
  3. If you have carpets, are they properly tacked down ?
  4. Do carpets have runners to avoid difficult edges – a lot of seniors shuffle when they walk rather than lifting their feet, so if you can keep all edges as low as possible with smooth transitions, you are really making things easier.
  5. Make sure that the carpets don’t have holes, or patches where a person could snag their foot.
  6. If you have to have rugs or throws, put anti-slip material underneath or even better, tack, or tape, them down.
  7. If you have wood, laminate, linoleum flooring, or any other surface which could be slippery, make them slip resistant, or put down carpet.
  8. If you have a tiled floor, make sure it doesn’t have seriously uneven bits which could cause tripping, and make it slip resistant.
  9. If you have blinds which need to be drawn, make sure that they are easy to get to, and that you don’t have to lean over furniture to open and close them.
  10. Don’t have blinds, curtains or shades which are difficult to open and close, and make sure they are sturdy, properly hung and well attached.
  11. Make sure that as much of your furniture has rounded edges as possible.
  12. For furniture with corners you can get soft plastic, or rubber, corner protectors to help against injuries caused from falling against the corners.
  13. Is seating in the room too low in general ?
  14. Try to make sure that there are chairs at either end of the room which are easily accessible, safe to get in and out of, and clutter-free.
  15. Is there a clear path through the center of the room, free any obstacles that can be tripped over ?
  16. Are there any electric cables which can be tripped on ?
  17. Are there any glass tables, or objects which could be easily broken, and which may for someone with poor eyesight be a hazard ?
  18. Is all furniture, such as shelves which the elderly are using, at a good and comfortable height for them, making access easy and risk-free ?
  19. Are any windows easy to open and close ?
  20. If there are wall sockets, are they at a good height ?

Bathrooms

 

  1. Is there a clear path from the bedroom to the bathroom at night ?
  2. Is the path from the bedroom to the bathroom well lit at night ?
  3. Does the path from the bedroom to the bathroom have motion sensor lights for nighttime ?
  4. Is the frame of the doorway level with the floor ?
  5. If necessary, is the bathroom doorway wheelchair accessible ?
  6. If necessary, is the bathroom doorway wide enough for walkers and Rollators ?
  7. Is the light switch right by the doorway to the bathroom ?
  8. Is it good and bright in the bathroom ?
  9. Is there a night light for the bathroom ?
  10. Is there an alarm or bell which can be rung if there is a problem ?
  11. Is it free from clutter and other hazards ?
  12. Do you have non-slip flooring ?
  13. Is there a non-slip mat in the bath and shower ?
  14. Are there grab bars around the toilet and shower ?
  15. If you have any mats, are they backed with non-slip material ?
  16. If the floor is tiled, are there any uneven bits which need repairing ?
  17. Is there an elevated seat for the toilet ?
  18. Is the toilet seat secure ?
  19. Is there a raised commode frame around the toilet ?
  20. Are all the supplies that a person will need all at the correct height for the elderly person, using them to eliminate reaching and straining ?
  21. Does the shower have a wall rather than a curtain ?
  22. Does the shower have at least one grab bar ?
  23. If the shower has a curtain, is it on the floor where people can trip on it ?
  24. Is there a hanging basket in the shower to hold articles at a convenient height ?
  25. If necessary, is there a shower seat, or bench, at the right height ?
  26. Is there a handheld shower head ?
  27. Is there a mixer faucet in the shower with a lever handle ?
  28. If necessary, is the bathroom doorway wheelchair accessible ?
  29. If necessary, do you have a waterproof shower walker
  30. If necessary, is the bathroom walker wide enough for walkers and Rollators ?
  31. Is the sink at a good height ?
  32. Is there a chair at the sink ?
  33. Is the faucet a mixer with a lever handle ?
  34. If there is a mirror at the sink, is it at the right height ?
  35. If there is a cupboard at the sink, is it at the right height ?
  36. If there is a bathtub, does it have a seat ?
  37. If there is a bathtub, does it have grab bars ?
  38. If there is a bathtub, are the faucets easy to reach ?
  39. If there is a bathtub, does it have a mixer tap with a lever handle ?

Stairways

 

  1. Are there good, strong rails on both sides of the stairs ?
  2. Do the stair rails continue onto the landing ?
  3. Is there grasping space for both fingers and knuckles on the rails ?
  4. Is the tread of the stairs at least a foot deep ?
  5. Are the steps in good condition ?
  6. Are the edges of the steps nice and solid, and not cracked ?
  7. Are the step edges clearly visible ?
  8. If the steps are bare wood, are they slip-resistant ?
  9. If the steps are carpeted, is the carpet flat and securely attached ?
  10. If the steps are carpeted, are there any rough or torn with loose threads, patches, etc. ?
  11. Is there clutter on the stairs ?
  12. Are the stairs brightly lit ?
  13. Are there light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs which are easily reached by the elderly ?
  14. If necessary, are the top and bottom steps highlighted for the visually impaired ?
  15. Are there lights with motion sensors, so your loved one doesn’t have to reach to switch stairway lights on and off ?

 

Kitchen

 

  1. Is the Refrigerator at a good height ?
  2. If there is a small fridge, does it need to be raised up, so access doesn’t require bending ?
  3. Are frequently used items in the refrigerator together, easily reachable and at the best height ?
  4. Does the fridge open easily ?
  5. Are frequently used foods, pans and utensils in cupboards together, and at an easily reachable height ?
  6. Are the burners and the knobs on the stove top clearly labeled ?
  7. Does the oven open easily
  8. Is the sink at a good height and easy to reach ?
  9. Is there a good chair to sit on to do chopping tasks etc. ?
  10. Is there a table to do chopping etc. ?
  11. Is the kitchen clearly and brightly lit ?
  12. Are there light switches at either end of the kitchen ?
  13. Make sure there is a clear path through the room ?
  14. Are there any cables that can you can catch on ?
  15. Is there any clutter that needs to be cleared out ?
  16. Are there any mats or rugs which need to be removed or tacked down ?
  17. If the floor is tiled, is it in a good condition without broken tiles etc. ?
  18. If the floor is smooth, is it slip resistant ?
  19. If there are windows that open, are they easy to reach ?
  20. If there are windows, do they open easily ?
  21. Are the wall sockets at a good height ?
  22. Are the areas around the wall sockets clear and easy to reach ?

Bedrooms

 

  1. Is there clutter that needs to be removed ?
  2. Is there a clear and unobstructed path through the room ?
  3. Are there any electric cables and cords on the floor ?
  4. If there are rugs on the floor, are they flat and backed with non-slip materials ?
  5. If the floor is bare wood, or linoleum, is it slip resistant ?
  6. If there is carpet, is t in a good condition and tacked down at the edges ?
  7. Is the bedroom well lit ?
  8. Is there an easy-to-reach light switch at the entrance to the bedroom ?
  9. Is there a light which is easy to reach from the bed ?
  10. Is it necessary to get out of bed to get eyeglasses ?
  11. Is it necessary to get out of bed, or reach too far, to get to the telephone ?
  12. If necessary, is there some kind of aid to help people get on and off the bed ?
  13. Do you have a non-slip product on the floor where your loved one stands up from the bed ?
  14. A non-slip area on the floor where your loved one gets on and off the bed will give them grip, making it a lot easier.
  15. How high is the bed from the floor – make it as low as is comfortable to avoid falls – when it is too high, the elderly can have a tendency to slip forwards.
  16. If your loved one has trouble getting on and off the bed, see if a walker frame by the bed makes it easier.
  17. If your loved one feels as though they need more grip as they stand up from the bed, make sure they put proper shoes on before they stand up – so have the shoes right there.
  18. Are the clothes bureaus a good height, and are the draws light and easy to use ?
  19. Are there curtains or blinds – blinds can be easier to handle ?
  20. If there are curtains, are they a tripping hazard if they are touching the floor ?
  21. Do the curtains or blinds open and close easily ?
  22. Are the curtains or blinds easy to reach, i.e. no obstacles ?
  23. Are the curtains or blinds properly secured ?
  24. Are the windows easy to open and close ?
  25. Is it easy to reach the windows, i.e. no obstacles ?
  26. Are there wall sockets which are at a good height and easy to reach ?
  27. Is there a nightlight ?

 

Bedroom Cupboards and Closets

 

  1. Is there lighting ?
  2. If there is lighting, is it easy to reach ?
  3. Is the floor clear of clutter ?
  4. Are the doors of cupboards and closets easy to open ?
  5. Are cupboards at a good height ?
  6. Are all the knobs and handles at a good height ?
  7. If the closet has sliding doors, do they work properly ?
  8. Are the closets and cupboards being used in an organized way

Utility Room/Laundry Room

 

  1. Is there a light switch at the entrance ?
  2. Is the light switch easy to reach ?
  3. Is the door frame flat at floor level ?
  4. Is there sufficient lighting ?
  5. Is the Laundry/Utilities room safely accessible ?
  6. Is the floor clear of tripping hazards – laundry baskets , detergent bottles and clothes etc. ?
  7. Is there a clear and unobstructed path in and out of the laundry/utilities room ?
  8. Is there some kind of non-slip floor surface – as there will be water ?
  9. Are the appliances at a good height for putting clothes in and taking them out ?
  10. Are all the controls clearly marked and easy to reach, and the knobs to use ?
  11. If needed, are there any reminder instructions for the appliances on display ?
  12. Are the laundry supplies easy to reach ?
  13. Are there wall sockets which are at a good height and easy to reach ?

 

Frequently used items

 

  1. Are cleaning supplies easy to get to and at the right height ?
  2. Is the vacuum cleaner a full sized model ?
  3. Is there a lightweight mini vacuum ?
  4. Is the vacuum cleaner stored in a clutter-free cupboard with easy access ?
  5. Are brooms stored where there is easy access ?
  6. Are dustpans and brushes stored at any easy level for access ?
  7. Is there a desk, or some other writing area, where any paperwork can be done ?
  8. Does this writing area have everything easily in reach at a good level ?
  9. If the kitchen isn’t very well adapted, maybe a few favorite utensils can be kept together in one easy to reach area ?
  10. Are extension cords in good shape ?
  11. Are all the wall sockets in good shape ?
  12. Are there dustpans and brushes on long handles to avoid bending down for cleaning?

Outside Areas -If your elderly parents can go outside you will need to check there too

 

Driveway

 

  1. Is the driveway smooth and even ?
  2. Where the driveway transitions into other areas around the house are there steps and obstacles which need looking at ?
  3. Are there uneven bits of paving, flag stones or rocks, that can be tripping hazards ?
  4. Is the driveway too steep for an elderly person ?

 

Paths and Walkways

 

  1. Are all the paths and walkways smooth and frees of tripping hazards ?
  2. Are there any handrails for support ?
  3. Are steps there any steps, and if so, are they clearly visible ?
  4. If there are steps, are the top and bottom steps clearly indicated ?
  5. Are all the transitions between different surfaces smooth and level ?
  6. Do any plants cause obstructions or tripping hazards ?

 

Garage

 

  1. Is the garage properly lit ?
  2. Is the light switch easy to access ?
  3. Is the entrance to the garage smooth and level ?
  4. Is there a clear pathway to walk through the garage ?
  5. Is there clutter which can cause tripping ?
  6. Are all electric cables off the floor?
  7. Are cupboards and shelves at the right height for easy access ?
  8. Are the cupboards and shelves well lit ?
  9. Does the garage door open automatically ?

 

Exterior Doorways

 

  1. Are the doorways well lit ?
  2. Do all the doors have railings if there are steps ?
  3. If there are steps, are they clutter-free ?
  4. Are the steps low enough ?
  5. Are there any grab bars around the doorways ?
  6. If there are steps, are they sturdy?
  7. If there are steps, are they in good condition and level ?
  8. If there are steps, and they are wood, are they slip resistant ?
  9. If there are steps, and they have some kind of tread, is it tacked down flat ?
  10. Do the steps need replacing with a ramp ?

 

Exterior Lighting

 

  1. Does the driveway have sufficient lighting ?
  2. Does the garage exterior have sufficient lighting ?
  3. Do the walkways and paths have sufficient lighting ?
  4. Do the doors have sufficient lighting ?
  5. Does the garbage area have sufficient lighting ?

How To Fall-Proof Your Home Senior Safety Checklist

You can download and print out your own copy of the

How To Fall-Proof Your Home Senior Safety Checklist

below for free – no strings attached !

I’m Gareth, the author and owner of Looking After Mom and Dad.com

I have been a caregiver for over 10 yrs and share all my tips here.

Gareth Williams

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