Many people want to age in place in their current homes, but it’s common for older adults and their family members to have concerns about preventing falls, staying safe, and more. While these concerns are common, there are ways to make your home more accessible and safe.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of home safety tasks you can implement to make your home safer for specific challenges and abilities. You’ll find a variety of tips, from easy ones that can be completed in a day to more complex ones that would require a contractor. Keep reading to find out how to make your home more accessible for all.
Fall Prevention
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 4 older adults fall annually, though that number is typically thought to be higher because many falls go unreported. Falls can happen due to several factors that decrease balance, make gait unsteady, and create the perfect environment for a slip, trip, or fall. Fortunately, there are plenty of quick home safety adjustments that can be made to reduce the risk of falling.
Lighting
Make it easier to see by focusing on the lighting on both the outside and inside of your home. Low vision is a major contributing factor to falls, and about 4 million adults in the U.S. live with an eye condition that can’t be corrected with medical treatments, glasses, or contacts.
Improving the lighting in your home is a quick fix that can help improve safety right away. Start by adding more lighting, including in stairwells and other darker spots. Remember to focus on common pathways, such as those from the bedroom to the bathroom. Adding night-lights along these areas will help to prevent nighttime falls, which are quite common when an older adult wakes up to go to the restroom in the middle of the night.
Some of the best types of lighting for older adults are higher-wattage and LED light bulbs. High-wattage bulbs have an increased brightness, which helps illuminate areas for those with low vision. Meanwhile, LED bulbs last longer, which reduces how often your family member needs to get on a stepladder to change them.
You can hire an electrician to wire in new overhead lights, or you can utilize other lighting solutions, such as lamps, push lights, or string lights, in darker areas of the home. If you’re using a solution with cords, secure these cords to keep them out of the pathway so they don’t become trip hazards.
Personal Alarm Systems
An emergency response system, pendant, or other alert device might help you or a family member feel more confident at home. A simple push of a button can route a call to an operator in case of a fall or other emergency.
If you’re considering a personal alarm system, be sure you find one that’s easy to wear, recharge, and operate. Alarm systems have come a long way and often provide fall detection technology, heart rate monitoring, and other features.
Voice assistants are popular for automating the home, telling you the weather, and more, but they’re also beneficial in an emergency. Assistants such as Alexa can place emergency calls based on voice commands, helping older adults feel secure.
You might even consider looking at medical alert systems that offer surveillance of the home, notifying designated caregivers when there’s a fall, less physical activity throughout the home, or other potential red flags that could point to an illness or health decline. These options can be expensive, but they provide reassurance to family members.
Bathroom Safety
The wet and slippery environment of the bathroom can lead to a serious fall. To make the bathroom safer, add skidproof bath mats outside of the shower or tub and in the shower itself. This extra traction inside and outside of the tub can help decrease the risk of falling.
Adding grab bars to the shower and near the toilet can provide the extra stability needed while transferring or moving from standing to sitting. Consider adding a shower seat and adjustable showerhead as additional home safety measures.
Make sure to eliminate any extra clutter in the bathroom. For example, an extra hutch or piece of furniture in a small bathroom can make the room feel even smaller and create less room, especially if you or your family member uses a mobility aid.
Clutter
Eliminate clutter throughout your home to prevent tripping hazards. If you or your family member use a wheelchair, cane, walker, or other mobility aid, a wider pathway to safely move is critical.
You can help improve safety by removing any pieces of furniture that crowd commonly used pathways. Furthermore, get rid of any unsecured rugs and make sure no cords are running along the floor. The National Institute of Aging also recommends keeping pathways clear of boxes, books, and other clutter to decrease the risk of falling.
Other Household Dangers
Transitioning between flooring types, such as stepping from carpet to tile, can be dangerous, especially for those living with vision challenges. Consider highlighting these transitions with bright painter's tape on the floor to provide visual signals of floor transitions.
Falling can also occur while trying to complete household chores. For example, it can be easy to trip while navigating a rocky garden bed in the backyard or while attempting to clear out the gutters. Remove items such as stepladders, ladders, lawn mowers, and other items that aren’t able to be used safely.
General Health and Safety
Although falls are one of the major dangers for those living at home, remember to consider other common personal safety factors as you make adjustments to your home.
Medication Management
Many people take more than one medication, with more than 40 percent of adults 65 and older taking more than five medications daily. Keeping up a medication regimen and managing doses and timing can be confusing. Missing a dose, doubling a dose, or taking the wrong pill can have serious consequences, leading to dangerous side effects and unplanned hospital visits.
Developing a system to track medications, doses, and times can help reduce the potential for medication errors. Begin by determining if a traditional pillbox system, where the pillbox is filled with medication doses for the week, might be best. If additional reminders are needed, try setting an alarm for when medications should be taken. Or you might consider investing in a medication dispenser system that dispenses the right medications at the right time and sounds an alarm when medications should be taken.
If you’re keeping track of medications for a family member, some best practices include keeping a current list of all medications in your family member’s purse or wallet, your personal files, and a designated spot in your family member’s home. The National Institute of Aging recommends including each prescription name, why it was prescribed, and the prescribing doctor on the list.
Emergency Response Measures
If there’s an emergency, it’s crucial to know how to call for help. It could be helpful to have a list of emergency contact numbers posted in large print by each phone in the home or saved on a smartphone.
It can also be helpful to utilize the Vial of Life program, where you compile specific documents in a designated place in the home to help first responders know about any do-not-resuscitate orders or other advance directives.
Emergency kits are also essential to have on hand in case of a natural disaster or power outage. The kit should include essential items, such as water, nonperishable food, a flashlight, extra batteries, a power bank or extra charger for a cell phone, emergency blankets, a change of clothing, and medications. If you or your family member rely on medical equipment that requires electricity, make sure to have a backup plan, such as a generator or battery-powered device. If medications require refrigeration, keep them wrapped in ice packs.
It’s critical to maintain a proper temperature during an emergency. If it’s cold out and there’s a power outage, dress in layers and use blankets to keep warm. If it’s warm out, wear cool clothing and use battery-powered fans. Make sure your emergency kit contains clothing that’s appropriate for your climate and enough items to last a few days.
Avoid using candles in an emergency due to the risk of fire—this is why it’s important to be prepared with plenty of extra batteries in your emergency kit. Additionally, turn off or unplug all major appliances to avoid an electrical surge when power is restored. This helps avoid damage to these appliances.
Nutritional Support
Older adults living at home alone or with a partner can struggle with nutrition. While there are physical changes that affect appetite, nutrient absorption, and metabolism as we age, there are other challenges to getting a healthy dish on the table.
Even if you’re quite active, it can be exhausting to plan and prepare nutritious meals three times per day. In these cases, less healthy options, such as processed convenience foods, can start to look desirable.
Maintain good nutritional habits by developing meal prepping and planning strategies that work with your or your family member’s abilities and preferences. This might mean sharing a grocery list with a family member so they can pick up groceries on the way home from work or dropping off prepared meals in individual portions with reheating instructions to a family member.
Scam Safety
Scams targeting older adults are common, with older adults being scammed out of more than $3.4 billion in 2023 alone, according to the FBI.
To help protect yourself and your family, start by adding phone numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry. Never give out passwords, open emails, or click on links in emails from people you don’t personally know.
You can stay updated on current scams in your area by following your local police department on social media. Finally, remember to never send cash or gift cards to strangers, and use debit cards or other methods of payment that can be traced in case of fraud.
Mobility
For those living with decreased mobility, a few home improvement projects can help with safe navigation around the home. For example, a ramp can be added at the entrance to the house if necessary in order to avoid stairs. Other projects that can help those with decreased mobility include moving the primary bedroom to the ground floor for easier access, widening doorways and hallways, and installing a step-in shower to eliminate the large step into a tub.
If you aren’t sure what type of home modifications to make, a physician or occupational therapist can provide more specific recommendations based on your unique needs.
Home Safety Tips for Those with Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Forms of Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia don’t just affect memory. People living with dementia can also experience changes in judgment, senses, and physical abilities, which can affect many facets of safety around the home. For a family member living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, safety becomes an even larger priority.
Home Safety Features
The Alzheimer’s Association recommends adding safety features, such as automatic shut-off options for kitchen appliances, stove knob safety covers, and locks for cabinets that contain poisonous or hazardous chemicals. You can also disconnect the garbage disposal, put medications and other substances in a locked drawer, and remove hazardous items from the home.
Wandering Precautions
Wandering, or walking without a purpose, is common for those living with dementia, and it can potentially lead to getting lost outside of the home. Have a safety plan that includes keeping your contact information in all of your family member’s coats and cardigan pockets. You can also provide them with an identifying piece of jewelry, such as an ID bracelet with their name and your contact information, to wear.Enhance safety by adding locks on all doors that are above eye level. You can also invest in video security cameras or motion detectors outside of the front door, back door, and garage. Finally, remove car keys from the home.
Offsetting the Costs of Home Safety Projects
Making small or large adjustments to a house can get expensive. However, there are some options for offsetting the costs of your home safety projects.
Medicare
Medicare Part B covers some home safety supplies that fall under the durable medical equipment category. It typically covers 80 percent of the cost as long as a physician prescribes the equipment. Equipment can include walkers and wheelchairs, portable commodes, hospital beds, and patient lifts.
Hospice Services
If your family member is in hospice, services such as home safety equipment are typically 100 percent covered through Medicare.
Finding and Working with a Contractor for Home Safety Projects
Hiring a contractor is a great option if you don’t have the expertise to rewire lighting or install a shower grab bar.
Look for a contractor who has experience working with safety adaptations. Ask for referrals from neighbors or your physician. You can also call the senior services department in your city to see if vetted volunteers are available to assist with home improvements.
Once you choose a contractor, make every effort to be home when the contractor is there. If you can’t be there, ask a trusted neighbor or friend to be present while the work is being done. If the work is distracting or upsetting for a family member, take them out of the home while the contractor is working.
Next Steps Beyond Home Safety Projects
Senior living communities are specially designed environments equipped to meet the challenges that come with mobility issues, medical conditions, or Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. With accessible apartment homes, plenty of lighting, specially trained staff members, personalized care plans, and wellness resources, residents can be confident they’re in an environment that’s safe, welcoming, and comfortable.
Learn more about senior living communities and their approach to wellness and safety in our free guide, The Holistic Approach to Aging and Health with Senior Living.
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This post was originally published in September 2023 and updated in January 2025.
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