the checklist
Fix the house one room at a time
Seven stops, in the order you walk them. There is no ranking on this page and nothing to buy. Every line below is taken from public guidance published by the National Institute on Aging or the CDC, and each block links to the page it came from so you can read the original.
This is deliberately the plainest page on the site. A checklist does not need a leaderboard to be useful, and most of what keeps somebody at home is this ordinary. Print it, or open it on your phone and work down it while you walk.
why bother
Understand what one fall costs
This page is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. It is a list of changes to a building.
walk it in order
Take the seven stops in order
front steps and path
Start outside, before the door
- Check that steps leading to the front door are not broken or uneven.
- Add non slip material to outdoor stairways.
- Keep the lawn, deck and porch clear of debris such as fallen branches.
- Consider a grab bar near the front door for balance while locking or unlocking it.
- Turn on the porch light at night, and before leaving if the return will be after dark.
- In winter, treat outdoor walkways with an ice melt product or sand.
stairs and hallways
Put a hand on both sides of every stair
- Make sure there are handrails on both sides of any stairs, and that they are secure.
- Hold the handrails going up and down, even when carrying something.
- Do not let anything being carried block the view of the steps.
- Fit light switches at the top and bottom of stairs and at each end of a long hall.
- Consider motion activated lights that plug into an outlet and come on when someone walks by.
floors
Take the rugs out of the house
- Do not use throw rugs or small area rugs.
- Check that all carpets are fixed firmly to the floor so they will not slip.
- Put no slip strips on tile and wooden floors.
- Keep walking areas tidy: no books, papers, clothes or shoes on the floor or stairs.
- Do not walk on slippery, newly washed floors.
bathroom
Start with the bathroom
- Mount grab bars near the toilet, and on both the inside and outside of the tub and shower.
- Place nonskid mats, strips or carpet on every surface that may get wet.
- Leave a light on in the bathroom at night, or use a night light that turns on automatically.
bedroom
Make the path from the bed work in the dark
- Put night lights and light switches close to the bed.
- Keep a flashlight by the bed in case the power goes out.
- Place a landline or a well charged phone near the bed.
kitchen
Bring the kitchen down to waist height
- Keep frequently used pots, pans and utensils somewhere easy to reach.
- Clean up spills immediately.
- Prepare food while seated, to prevent fatigue or loss of balance.
living areas
Clear the walking line through the room
- Keep electrical cords near walls and away from walking paths.
- Arrange furniture, especially low coffee tables, so it is not in the way when walking through.
- Check that sofas and chairs are the right height to get in and out of easily.
- Keep items used often at waist level or within easy reach.
- Do not stand on a chair or table to reach something high. Use a reach stick or ask for help. If a step stool is used, make sure it is steady, has a handrail on top, and someone is standing next to it.
- Know where the cat or dog is whenever anyone is standing or walking.
- Keep a list of emergency numbers in large print near each landline, and saved as favourites on the mobile phone.
getting help
Ask who pays for the modifications
The NIA points out that "many state and local governments have education and/or home modification programs to help older people prevent falls", and suggests checking with a local health department, searching the Eldercare Locator, or calling 800-677-1116 to find the local Area Agency on Aging. Source: NIA, Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room.
In this region that means one of three agencies, and which one depends only on the address. The three phone numbers are here.
Two more NIA pages are worth the read before you decide anything: Aging in Place: Growing Older at Home and Falls and Fractures in Older Adults: Causes and Prevention. If memory loss is part of the picture, the NIA keeps a separate home safety page for that: Alzheimer's Caregiving: Home Safety Tips.
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