Category: Quick Guide / Caregiving

⚡ Home Safety for Caregiving

A home that once worked well may become difficult or dangerous when someone experiences changes in mobility, balance, vision, hearing, memory, strength, or judgment.

You do not need to remodel the entire home at once. Begin by correcting immediate dangers, then work through the home one area at a time.

Whenever possible, include the person in decisions about changes to their home.

Start Here

Walk through the home and look for anything that could cause the person to:

• Trip or fall
• Become burned or injured
• Take the wrong medication
• Become locked in or out
• Wander away
• Have difficulty calling for help
• Struggle to reach the bathroom
• Be unable to leave during an emergency

Correct urgent dangers first.

Fix These Immediate Hazards Today

• Remove items blocking exits and walkways
• Clean up spills
• Move electrical cords away from walking areas
• Remove or secure loose rugs
• Replace burned-out light bulbs
• Repair loose railings
• Lock up medications, weapons, chemicals, and other dangerous items
• Confirm that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work
• Make sure the person can reach a telephone or alert device
• Remove spoiled food
• Check that frequently used appliances are working safely

If the home cannot be made reasonably safe right away, arrange for the person to stay somewhere else while serious hazards are corrected.

1. Clear Floors and Walkways

Make sure there is a wide, clear path through every room.

Remove or relocate:

• Loose rugs
• Electrical cords
• Shoes
• Bags
• Boxes
• Pet supplies
• Small furniture
• Low tables
• Decorative objects
• Clutter on stairs
• Uneven or damaged flooring

Arrange furniture so the person does not have to squeeze through narrow spaces or make sudden turns.

Avoid encouraging someone to hold onto furniture for support. Ask an appropriate healthcare professional whether a cane, walker, or other mobility device is needed.

2. Improve the Lighting

Poor lighting can make it difficult to see steps, furniture, spills, and changes in the floor.

Add lighting:

• Near the bed
• Along the route to the bathroom
• In hallways
• At the top and bottom of stairs
• Near entrances
• Inside closets
• Over kitchen work areas
• In the bathroom

Use:

• Night-lights
• Motion-sensor lights
• Easy-to-reach switches
• Brighter bulbs that are appropriate for the fixture
• Lamps that can be turned on without crossing a dark room

Reduce glare and strong shadows, which can be confusing for someone with vision or memory changes.

Helpful Resources: Browse Lighting & Visibility for products, equipment, services, or supplies related to this section.

3. Make the Stairs Safer

Check that:

• Steps are clear
• Carpeting is firmly attached
• Railings are secure
• Handrails are available on both sides when possible
• Lighting is available at the top and bottom
• Light switches are easy to reach
• The edges of steps are easy to see
• The person’s shoes fit securely
• Frequently used items do not need to be carried between floors

Do not use pressure-mounted gates at the top of stairs.

If the person has difficulty using stairs, consider moving essential activities to one floor until the home can be evaluated.

4. Check the Bathroom

Bathrooms present risks because surfaces can become wet and slippery.

Consider:

• Grab bars inside and outside the shower or bathtub
• Grab bars near the toilet
• Nonslip strips or a securely attached nonslip surface
• A shower chair or transfer bench
• A handheld showerhead
• A raised toilet seat, if professionally recommended
• Good lighting
• A clear path to the bathroom
• A night-light
• A door that can be unlocked from the outside during an emergency

Do not use towel bars as grab bars. They may not support someone’s weight.

The CDC recommends installing grab bars near the toilet and inside and outside the bathtub or shower as part of fall prevention.

Ask an occupational therapist or other qualified professional for help choosing and installing bathroom equipment.

Helpful Resources: Browse Bathroom Safety for products, equipment, services, or supplies related to this section.

5. Review the Bedroom

Make sure:

• The bed is easy to enter and exit
• The person can reach a light from bed
• A telephone or alert device is nearby
• The route to the bathroom is clear
• Shoes, clothing, and blankets are not left on the floor
• Frequently used items are within easy reach
• The person does not need to stand on furniture
• Mobility equipment is positioned safely
• A night-light is available

Avoid placing the bed so low or high that the person struggles to stand or sit safely.

If the person gets up frequently at night, ask a healthcare provider whether pain, medication effects, sleep problems, or bathroom needs may be contributing.

6. Check the Kitchen

Reduce the risk of burns, fires, cuts, and food-related illness.

Check that:

• Frequently used items are easy to reach
• Heavy items are stored at waist level
• Knives and dangerous tools are stored safely
• Cleaning products are separated from food
• Food is fresh and properly stored
• Appliance cords are in good condition
• The stove and oven turn off correctly
• Smoke alarms are working
• A fire extinguisher is accessible
• The floor is clean and dry
• The person does not need to climb to reach items

If memory or judgment has changed, consider:

• Automatic shutoff devices
• Stove-knob covers
• Removing knobs when the stove is not being used
• Locking dangerous supplies
• Supervision during cooking
• Using safer meal-preparation options

Do not make changes secretly unless an immediate danger requires action. Explain the concern and involve the person whenever possible.

7. Organize Medications Safely

Store medications:

• In one designated location
• Away from heat and moisture
• Out of reach of children
• Securely if the person may take the wrong medication
• In their original labeled containers when possible

Check for:

• Expired medications
• Duplicate prescriptions
• Pills mixed together
• Empty bottles that need refills
• Medications prescribed to someone else
• Confusion about dosages
• Difficulty opening containers

Do not change or stop medications without appropriate professional guidance.

Ask the pharmacist or healthcare provider whether any medication could cause dizziness, sleepiness, confusion, or balance problems.

8. Check Fire and Carbon Monoxide Safety

Make sure the home has working:

• Smoke alarms
• Carbon monoxide alarms
• Fire extinguishers
• Emergency lighting

Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Test them monthly and replace alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Also:

• Keep exits clear
• Create two ways out when possible
• Avoid overloaded electrical outlets
• Replace damaged electrical cords
• Keep heaters away from furniture and bedding
• Never smoke in bed
• Do not leave cooking unattended
• Do not use the stove or oven to heat the home
• Keep oxygen away from flames, smoking, and heat sources

Create an escape plan that accounts for the person’s mobility, hearing, vision, and cognitive needs.

Helpful Resources: Browse Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms for products, equipment, services, or supplies related to this section.

9. Secure Dangerous Items

Store potentially dangerous items securely, including:

• Medications
• Cleaning products
• Alcohol
• Knives
• Tools
• Matches and lighters
• Firearms
• Chemicals
• Pesticides
• Car keys
• Important financial documents

If firearms are present, store them unloaded and locked, with ammunition secured separately.

Use locked storage when the person may not recognize the danger or could accidentally misuse an item.

10. Prepare for Memory and Thinking Changes

If the person has dementia or another cognitive condition:

• Use simple signs or pictures to identify important rooms
• Keep routines consistent
• Reduce clutter and confusing patterns
• Store dangerous items out of sight
• Monitor stove and appliance use
• Secure exterior doors when wandering is a concern
• Keep emergency contact information visible
• Use door alarms or alerts when appropriate
• Remove locks from bathroom or bedroom doors that could trap the person
• Keep car keys secure if driving is unsafe
• Avoid moving familiar items unnecessarily

Safety measures should not create new dangers. Locks and alarms must still allow everyone to leave during a fire or other emergency.

The National Institute on Aging recommends completing a room-by-room safety review and correcting immediate dangers such as loose railings and poor lighting first.

11. Make It Easy to Call for Help

Place a telephone, mobile phone, or alert device where the person can reach it.

Consider:

• Large-button telephones
• Voice-activated calling
• Speed-dial contacts
• A wearable medical alert device
• A smart speaker
• A daily check-in system
• A list of emergency numbers in large print

Make sure the person knows:

• How to call 911
• Their home address
• Who to call if they need nonemergency help
• How to use the alert device
• What to do after a fall

Charge mobile devices and test alert systems regularly.

12. Check Entrances and Outdoor Areas

Look for:

• Broken or uneven steps
• Loose railings
• Cracked sidewalks
• Poor lighting
• Slippery leaves, snow, or ice
• Difficult door locks
• High thresholds
• Loose mats
• Narrow pathways
• Overgrown plants
• Hoses or tools in walkways

Add handrails, improved lighting, nonslip surfaces, or a properly designed ramp when needed.

Keep the primary entrance and an emergency exit accessible.

13. Ask for a Professional Home-Safety Assessment

Additional help may be useful if the person:

• Has fallen
• Frequently loses balance
• Uses a cane, walker, or wheelchair
• Has difficulty bathing or using the toilet
• Cannot safely use stairs
• Has significant vision changes
• Has dementia or impaired judgment
• Is returning home after a hospital stay
• Needs help transferring between a bed, chair, or toilet

An occupational therapist, physical therapist, nurse, aging-in-place specialist, or other qualified professional may be able to evaluate the home and recommend appropriate changes.

Avoid purchasing expensive equipment until you know it is suitable for the person and the home.

Quick Checklist

• Clear floors, stairs, and walkways
• Remove or secure loose rugs
• Improve lighting
• Repair loose railings and damaged flooring
• Add appropriate bathroom safety equipment
• Create a clear route from the bed to the bathroom
• Store medications safely
• Secure dangerous tools, chemicals, and weapons
• Check kitchen and appliance safety
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Keep all exits clear
• Make sure the person can call for help
• Review memory-related safety concerns
• Check entrances and outdoor walkways
• Arrange a professional assessment if needed

Remember

Home safety is not about removing every possible risk or taking away someone’s independence.

Start with the hazards most likely to cause serious harm. Make practical changes, involve the person in decisions, and reassess the home whenever their health, mobility, memory, or caregiving needs change.