Walk your home the way an occupational therapist would, and the hazards reveal themselves. Most falls happen in familiar rooms where nobody thinks to look for a problem. A methodical, room-by-room check takes an hour on a Saturday morning. What you'll notice about your own house or your parents' place in North Raleigh will surprise you.
Front Entry, Hallways, and Stairs
Start where you come in the door. Is the outside walkway even? Are steps well-lit at dusk? A motion sensor light at the front door is inexpensive.
Inside, hallways need clear floors and enough light to read a magazine by. Runners and small rugs are one of the top fall culprits. Tack them down with double-sided rug tape or remove them entirely. Cords that snake across walkways need to move along the baseboard.
Stairs deserve extra attention. Handrails on both sides, not just one. Check that carpet is tacked down at every edge. A strip of contrasting tape on the top and bottom step helps aging eyes judge depth in low light.
The Bathroom, the Highest-Risk Room in the House
More falls happen in bathrooms than most people realize.
Install grab bars near the toilet and inside the shower. Not towel bars, which pull straight out of drywall. Real grab bars are anchored into wall studs and can carry full weight. A raised toilet seat helps if standing up is getting harder. A shower chair turns a risky standing shower into a safe seated one.
Put a rubber mat inside the tub and a non-skid mat outside.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention STEADI program has a printable home safety checklist you can walk through with a parent in about 45 minutes.
Kitchen and Living Areas
In the kitchen, move everyday items to waist-to-shoulder height. No one should stand on a chair to reach the cereal. Store heavier pots down low. Keep a step stool with a handrail for anything higher up.
Wipe up spills right away. A wet tile floor is invisible until you're on it.
In the living room, consider how the furniture is arranged. Is there a clear walking path from the door to the couch to the hallway, wide enough for a walker if one is ever needed? Are chairs the right height to get out of without a struggle? Recliners with lift assistance are worth the money if standing is a daily battle.
Bedroom and Getting up at Night
Bedrooms need low lighting for middle-of-the-night trips. Motion-activated night lights along the path from bed to bathroom are inexpensive, and adding a small touch-on lamp beside the bed gives anyone staying there a safe way to check on a sound at 2 a.m. without hunting for a switch in the dark.
Keep a phone within arm's reach. If a parent has fallen before, a medical alert pendant that works outside the home gives someone freedom to garden or walk to the mailbox without worry.
Beds that are too high or too low are a problem. Feet should reach the floor when sitting on the edge. Bed rails or a firm chair beside the bed help with sit-to-stand.
Making It a Habit Across North Raleigh, Wake Forest, Rolesville, and Knightdale
Home safety isn't a one-time project. Do the walk-through in September, then again in March. If you'd like a second set of eyes on a parent's home or steady in-home support to keep daily life safe, our team at Senior Helpers North Raleigh is nearby. We serve families across North Raleigh, Wake Forest, Rolesville, and Knightdale with in-home care built around real routines. Contact us anytime.