Home Safety Checklist for Seniors

Keeping Your Home Safe

Doing a spot check around the home can help you find hazards that would otherwise go unnoticed — and once you find them, it allows you to fix them. Here’s a quick and easy safety checklist to ensure your home is safe and sound!

Remove Trip, Slip, and Fall Hazards

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one out of four older people fall each year, causing serious injuries, such as broken bones or a head injury. Remove trip, slip, and fall hazards by:

• Fixing broken/uneven steps both in and out of the home.
• Removing throw rugs.
• Clearing clutter on the floor, in walkways, and on stairs.
• Securing loose electrical cords and clearing electrical wiring that could block paths.
• Making adjustments to the bathroom by installing grab bars near the toilet, in bathtubs and showers. Also, ensure that your bath has non-skid mats.
• Ensuring proper lighting throughout the home, especially in the evening. Install night lights in your bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen.

If you want to keep any rugs throughout the home, be sure the edges are secured and add a non-slip rug pad underneath.

Keep Emergency Numbers Handy

Having emergency numbers handy can get you help sooner rather than later. Be sure to:

• Have a communication plan in place (create a group text or phone call chain).
• Do an audit of your emergency contact information and make sure you have the most current information such as cell, home, and work phone numbers.
• Consider an emergency alert system, such as wearing a necklace or bracelet that has a button to press for immediate help should you have an accident in the home and can’t get to a phone.

Check Your Smoke Detectors

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) recommends that smoke detectors be replaced every 10 years. Batteries should be checked once a month by pushing the test button. Here are some tips on how to install and place your smoke detectors:

• Place a smoke detector inside and outside of each bedroom and sleeping area.
• Install smoke detectors on every level of your home.
• Place smoke detectors on the ceiling or high on a wall.
• Request the help of an experienced electrician if you’re installing hardwired smoke detectors.

Since carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless toxic gas, investing in a combination smoke detector/carbon monoxide detector can give you peace of mind knowing it could save your life.

Giving your home a safety audit by using the above checklist can ensure you are well-prepared for an emergency.