Fall Prevention and Home Safety Checklist

Room by room

• Floors and walkways: remove loose throw rugs or secure them with non-slip backing; tape or remove loose cords; clear clutter from paths, especially the route from bed to bathroom.
• Bathroom: grab bars near the toilet and in the shower/tub, a non-slip mat, and a raised toilet seat if needed. This is consistently the highest-risk room in the house.
• Stairs: handrails on both sides, good lighting, and non-slip treads.
• Lighting: nightlights along the path to the bathroom, and lamps within reach of the bed so nothing requires walking across a dark room.
• Kitchen: keep frequently used items on lower shelves so a step stool isn’t necessary.

Beyond the house itself

• Ask the doctor for a medication review. Some combinations of medications, or a single medication at the wrong dose, increase dizziness and fall risk — this is one of the highest-leverage, most overlooked steps.
• Get vision checked annually. Uncorrected vision changes are a major contributor to falls.
• Supportive, well-fitting footwear — not just around the house, but especially: many falls happen in socks or loose slippers.
• Ask about a balance or strength-training program. Programs built specifically around fall prevention (physical therapists and some community senior centers offer these) measurably reduce fall risk, and it’s not something a family has to figure out alone.

If a fall already happened

One fall meaningfully raises the risk of another. Don’t treat a single fall as a one-off — mention it to the doctor even if no injury resulted, since it’s often the first visible sign of something worth investigating (a medication issue, an inner-ear problem, early muscle weakness).