Home safety deserves year-round attention, and National Safety Month is a timely reminder to reassess your loved one's living environment. As mobility, balance, vision, or memory change, everyday features may become safety concerns. A room-by-room home safety assessment helps identify hazards early and prioritize changes that fit your loved one's current abilities and daily routine.
Starting With the Areas of Highest Risk
Bathrooms and bedrooms are common locations for falls. Install grab bars beside the toilet and inside the shower or tub, since towel bars are not designed to support body weight. Add a non-slip mat or textured surface in the tub or shower, and consider a handheld showerhead for those with limited mobility. In the bedroom, keep the path to the bathroom clear and use a nightlight to improve visibility after dark.
Moving Through the Main Living Areas
Inspect living rooms, kitchens, dining areas, and hallways for obstacles that could interfere with safe movement. Secure electrical cords along baseboards, keep pathways free of clutter, and allow at least 36 inches of clearance for walkers or wheelchairs. Check that frequently used furniture is stable and does not wobble.
Store everyday dishes, cookware, food, and small appliances between waist and shoulder height to reduce reaching and bending. Ask a family member or caregiver to retrieve items from high shelves instead of reaching for them or standing on chairs.
Remove throw rugs, repair damaged flooring, clean up spills promptly, and add non-slip mats where floors become wet. The National Institute on Aging also provides room-by-room home safety recommendations that may help identify additional hazards during your assessment.
Lighting, Stairs, and the Exterior
Check that hallways, stairways, entryways, bathrooms, and exterior walkways are well lit. Replace burned-out bulbs, use brighter LEDs where needed, and ensure light switches are easy to reach. Motion-activated lighting can improve visibility near doors and outdoor paths used after dark.
Inspect stairs for loose carpeting, uneven steps, or worn edges. Handrails should be securely fastened and run the full length of the staircase. If the steps are hard to see, add contrasting non-slip tape for better visibility.
Outside, look for cracked pavement, uneven surfaces, loose pavers, and overgrown landscaping. Keep walkways clear of leaves, standing water, and debris.
Tracking What You Find
As you walk through each room, write down what you observe and divide findings into things you can address immediately (moving a cord, replacing a bulb) and things that require a contractor or occupational therapist (grab bar installation, stair repair). Home modification programs, such as the Los Angeles Housing Department's Handyworker Program, offer financial assistance for home repairs to improve safety, security, and comfort for senior homeowners and renters.
Personalized In-Home Care for a Safer Home
Home safety assessments work best when revisited as mobility, vision, health, or daily routines change. Addressing hazards early may help reduce fall risks and make daily activities easier.
Some safety concerns extend beyond grab bars, lighting, and the removal of trip hazards. When extra help is needed with mobility, personal care, or routine tasks, consistent in-home assistance can further reduce risks. Senior Helpers South Valley offers personalized in-home care services that help older adults in Encino, Tarzana, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, and Reseda live more safely at home. Contact us to learn how our services may complement the safety improvements you've made and help your loved one remain comfortable at home.