Most of us don’t think twice about our own homes. The layout is familiar, the furniture hasn’t moved in years, and every light switch is right where we expect it.
That familiarity is actually part of what makes home hazards easy to overlook. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury among adults 65 and older, and the majority of them happen at home. By doing a simple safety walkthrough, you can catch most problems before they become emergencies.
Work your way through the areas below and see what you find.
Loose throw rugs are among the most common fall hazards in older adults’ homes. Your best bet is to remove them altogether, but if you want to keep them, secure every edge with nonslip backing or double-sided tape. While you’re at it, look for furniture sitting in the middle of your regular walking paths and rearrange it so your routes are clear. A clear path from the bed to the bathroom is especially important at night.
Extension cords, phone chargers, and TV cables that stretch across the floor are easy to trip over, particularly in low light. Route all cords along baseboards or walls and use cable clips or cord covers to keep them in place. If an appliance requires a cord to cross an open area, consider rearranging the furniture or finding a closer outlet.
Poor lighting is a significant fall risk, especially for eyes that need a little more time to adjust to the dark. Make sure stairways, hallways, and bathrooms are well-lit.
Putting a nightlight along the path from the bedroom to the bathroom will keep you from having to navigate blindly at 2 a.m. Motion-sensor nightlights are a particularly practical option, since they turn on automatically. If reaching a lamp switch is inconvenient, a touch-activated lamp or a smart plug you control by voice are easy upgrades.
Check that handrails are secure on both sides of every staircase in your home. If a railing wobbles or feels loose, have it repaired. Make sure each step is clearly visible — if any are worn or hard to distinguish, a strip of contrasting tape along the edge can help define them. Keep your stairs free of shoes, boxes, and anything else that tends to pile up on a step.
The bathroom is the most common location for home fall injuries. If you don’t already have grab bars near the toilet and inside the shower or tub, installing them is one of the most practical safety upgrades you can make. The CDC’s home fall prevention checklist also recommends a nonslip rubber mat on the floor of the tub or shower. Avoid using a towel rack as a handhold — these are not designed to bear weight and can pull free from the wall.
While you’re doing a safety check, test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace any low batteries, and confirm that you have working detectors on every level of your home. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends replacing your smoke detectors every 10 years.
Most of these fixes take less than an afternoon and cost very little. Your home should be the place you feel most at ease, and a quick walkthrough is all it takes to make sure it stays that way.
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