Category: Quick Guide / Caregiving

⚡ Preventing Falls at Home

Falls are not an unavoidable part of aging. Many falls can be prevented by correcting hazards, reviewing health concerns, and making everyday activities safer.

Start with the places the person uses most often. Pay special attention to stairs, bathrooms, bedrooms, entrances, and the route between the bed and bathroom.

Start Here

Ask the person:

• Have you fallen during the past year?
• Have you nearly fallen or caught yourself on furniture?
• Do you feel unsteady when standing or walking?
• Are you worried about falling?
• Do you become dizzy when you stand?
• Are you having difficulty seeing steps or obstacles?
• Do you avoid certain rooms or activities?
• Do you have trouble using the bathtub, toilet, or stairs?
• Do you use a cane or walker?
• Have any medications made you sleepy or dizzy?

Tell the person’s healthcare provider about falls, near falls, dizziness, balance problems, or a new fear of falling.

Call 911 After a Fall If the Person:

• Is unconscious or cannot be awakened
• Has difficulty breathing
• Has severe chest pain
• Has heavy bleeding
• May have injured their head, neck, back, or hip
• Has severe pain
• Cannot move an arm or leg
• Has weakness or numbness on one side
• Has trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Has a seizure
• Is vomiting repeatedly
• Becomes suddenly confused
• Takes a blood thinner and may have hit their head
• Cannot get up and may be seriously injured

Do not force the person to stand if they may be injured.

Keep them still and comfortable while waiting for emergency help.

1. Clear Floors and Walkways

Remove or relocate:

• Loose rugs
• Electrical cords
• Shoes
• Bags
• Boxes
• Pet toys
• Small furniture
• Low tables
• Clutter
• Items left on stairs

Create a clear path through every room.

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

Clean up spills immediately and repair loose carpeting or damaged flooring.

2. Improve the Lighting

Make sure there is good lighting:

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

Consider:

• Night-lights
• Motion-sensor lights
• Brighter bulbs that are safe for the fixture
• Light switches at both ends of hallways
• Lamps that can be reached without crossing a dark room

Open curtains or blinds during the day when natural light is helpful.

Reduce glare and strong shadows that can make floors and steps difficult to see.

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
• Handrails are secure
• Railings 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
• Outdoor steps are free from water, leaves, snow, and ice

Do not store items on the stairs.

Encourage the person to keep one hand available for the railing instead of carrying large or heavy objects.

If using stairs has become unsafe, move essential activities to one floor until the situation can be professionally evaluated.

4. Improve Bathroom Safety

Bathrooms can become especially dangerous when floors and surfaces are wet.

Consider:

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

Do not use towel bars, soap dishes, or sliding shower doors for support. They may not hold the person’s weight.

The CDC recommends installing grab bars near the toilet and inside and outside the bathtub or shower to help reduce fall risks.

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

5. Check 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 and clothing are not left on the floor
• Blankets do not hang into the walking area
• Frequently used items are within easy reach
• A night-light is available
• Mobility equipment is positioned safely

If the person frequently gets up at night, ask whether pain, medications, sleep problems, or bathroom needs may be contributing.

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

6. Choose Safer Footwear

Encourage the person to wear shoes that:

• Fit correctly
• Have nonslip soles
• Support the heel
• Stay securely on the foot
• Are in good condition

Avoid:

• Loose slippers
• Socks without nonslip bottoms
• Shoes with worn soles
• High heels
• Shoes that are too large
• Walking barefoot on slippery surfaces

Keep commonly worn shoes near the bed or chair so the person does not need to walk across the room without them.

7. Use Mobility Equipment Correctly

If the person uses a cane, walker, wheelchair, or other mobility device:

• Make sure it is the correct size
• Check for loose or damaged parts
• Replace worn rubber tips
• Keep wheels and brakes in good condition
• Store it within easy reach
• Keep pathways wide enough for safe use
• Encourage its use whenever recommended

Do not use borrowed equipment unless an appropriate professional confirms it is suitable.

A physical therapist or occupational therapist can help select, fit, and teach the safe use of mobility equipment.

8. Review Medications

Some medications can increase the risk of falling by causing:

• Dizziness
• Sleepiness
• Confusion
• Blurred vision
• Weakness
• Low blood pressure
• An urgent need to use the bathroom

Ask the person’s healthcare provider or pharmacist to review:

• Prescription medications
• Over-the-counter medicines
• Sleep aids
• Vitamins
• Supplements
• Alcohol use

Do not stop or change medications without appropriate professional guidance.

9. Address Vision and Hearing Changes

Difficulty seeing obstacles or hearing warnings can increase the risk of falling.

Encourage the person to:

• Have regular vision examinations
• Update eyeglasses when needed
• Wear prescribed glasses
• Keep glasses clean
• Use hearing aids when recommended
• Replace hearing-aid batteries
• Allow time to adjust to new lenses
• Use extra caution on stairs when wearing bifocals or progressive lenses

The CDC recommends regular eye examinations and correctly fitted, nonslip footwear as part of fall prevention.

10. Watch for Dizziness and Weakness

Tell the healthcare provider if the person:

• Becomes dizzy when standing
• Feels faint
• Has new weakness
• Shuffles while walking
• Has difficulty lifting their feet
• Holds onto furniture
• Has numbness in their feet
• Becomes tired after walking a short distance
• Has new balance problems

Encourage the person to:

• Sit at the edge of the bed before standing
• Stand up slowly
• Pause before beginning to walk
• Use recommended mobility equipment
• Avoid rushing to answer the door or telephone

Do not assume that dizziness, weakness, or repeated falls are simply caused by age.

11. Support Strength and Balance

Physical activity can help maintain strength, balance, flexibility, and confidence.

Ask an appropriate healthcare professional which activities are safe.

Possible options include:

• Walking
• Chair exercises
• Strength exercises
• Balance exercises
• Tai chi
• Physical therapy
• Supervised exercise programs

The activity should match the person’s health, mobility, and ability.

Do not begin a demanding exercise program without appropriate guidance if the person has significant medical conditions, weakness, pain, or a history of falls.

12. Make Outdoor Areas Safer

Check:

• Steps
• Railings
• Sidewalks
• Driveways
• Ramps
• Porches
• Lighting
• Door thresholds
• Outdoor mats

Remove:

• Leaves
• Snow
• Ice
• Water
• Hoses
• Tools
• Loose stones
• Overgrown plants

Repair cracked or uneven walking surfaces.

Arrange for someone to clear snow and ice if the person cannot do it safely.

13. Make It Easier to Get Help

Keep a telephone, mobile phone, or alert device within reach.

Consider:

• A wearable medical alert device
• Voice-activated calling
• Speed-dial emergency contacts
• A smart speaker
• Daily check-in calls
• A telephone in commonly used rooms

Teach the person what to do after a fall:

• Remain still for a moment
• Check for pain or injury
• Call for help
• Avoid forcing themselves to stand
• Use a practiced recovery method only when they are uninjured and physically able

If the person lives alone, create a plan for someone to check on them if they do not answer their phone or complete a normal daily routine.

14. Arrange a Professional Assessment

Ask about a professional assessment if the person:

• Has fallen
• Has repeated near falls
• Uses furniture for support
• Has difficulty using stairs
• Struggles to bathe or use the toilet
• Has new weakness or dizziness
• Uses mobility equipment
• Has significant vision changes
• Is returning home after a hospital stay
• Is afraid to walk or leave the home

A healthcare provider, physical therapist, occupational therapist, nurse, or other qualified professional may be able to identify contributing health concerns and recommend appropriate changes.

Quick Checklist

• Ask about falls, near falls, and fear of falling
• Tell the healthcare provider about any falls
• Clear floors, stairs, and walkways
• Remove or secure loose rugs
• Improve lighting
• Repair railings and damaged flooring
• Add appropriate bathroom safety equipment
• Create a clear route from the bed to the bathroom
• Check shoes and mobility equipment
• Request a medication review
• Address vision, hearing, dizziness, and weakness
• Discuss safe strength and balance activities
• Check outdoor walking areas
• Make sure the person can call for help
• Arrange a professional assessment when needed

Remember

A fall is not always caused by one problem. Medication effects, vision changes, weakness, poor lighting, unsafe footwear, clutter, and home hazards may all contribute.

Take every fall seriously, correct immediate hazards, and ask for professional help when the person feels unsteady or begins falling repeatedly.

This guide provides general education and does not replace individualized care from a qualified healthcare or mental health professional.