How to Do a Home Safety Evaluation for Seniors

Living comfortably at home as a senior is everyone’s dream. Although senior home care allows this to happen, accidents such as trips and falls still occur in dangerous homes. Sadly, 60 percent of falls happen inside the home.

As safety is arguably the number one factor in successful independent living, it’s crucial that you remove these dangers and put in place helpful pro-active tools too.

Here’s how to do a home safety evaluation for seniors:

Trip and Fall Risks Evaluation

The CDC says more than one out of four Americans fall every year. They can cause broken bones and other serious injuries that leave seniors in nursing homes. But falls are preventable. Generally speaking, a home safety evaluation for seniors should fix, remove or replace:

• Frayed rugs and old carpet
• Any objects on the floor
• Handlebar placement (especially around baths, toilets or stairs)
• Medication that can cause dizziness
• Broken or slippery steps outside
• Foliage on paths or steps
• Poor lighting or difficulty finding light switches in darkness (increase bulb brightness if needed).
• Dangling electrical cables or sockets
• Clothes on the floor or clothes that may fall off chairs.

Fire Risks

Although less common, the potential for a fire is often overlooked. Seniors who struggle with cognitive capabilities may struggle to care for their home maintenance like they used to. Fire hazards may include:

• Dangling electrical sockets
• Clothes over radiators
• Poor or damaged electrical wiring
• Dementia patients forgetting to turn off the stove
• Fire alarms that are poorly placed or have old batteries.
• Overloaded electrical outlets.

Home Safety Checklist - Go Room by Room

The best way to do a home safety evaluation for seniors is to go room-by-room. This will allow you to focus on the small details without feeling overwhelmed. Go through each room and ask these questions. If you’re looking for an outside opinion, ask your senior home care caregiver to help you.

In Every Room and Hallways

• When you walk through a room, do you need to move anything or overcome any obstacles? - If so, make a clear path.
• Are rugs or doormats on the floor? - Remove them or use strong, double-sided tape to secure them to the floor.
• Can items fall on the floor, such as books, clothes or shoes? - If so, organize them in a location away from the walking area.
• Are electrical cables, laptop cables, telephone cables or light cables on the floor? - Attach them to the wall or, if needed, ask an electrician to put them in an electrical outlet.
• Are floor boards loose or a trip hazard?

In The Kitchen

• Are items on high shelves? - Move them to lower cabinets, preferably at around waist height.
• Ensure your loved one is aware or reminded of the risks of leaving cabinet doors open.
• Do they need a stool or stair to reach things? - Ensure the stool is extremely secure and sturdy. Remove the use of it completely if possible.
• Are the knives and other dangerous utensils stored safely?
• Are there properly positioned grab bars?
• Is there any liquid or grease that needs to be cleaned up?
• Is the floor slippy? - Use non-skid floor wax if needed.

In The Bathroom

• Is the tub or shower floor slippery? - Add a secure, non-slip mat or non-skid strips.
• Are there grab bars in key positions? - Ask your loved one where they will need help, getting in and out of the bath/shower and when using the toilet. Ask again for positioning updates in the future.
• Could any towels, clothing or other items fall and become trip hazards? - Position them in an organized location, where this risk is minimal.
• Ensure the toilet seat is secured firmly.
• If needed, add a sturdy shower chair that won’t slip or fall over.

In The Bedroom

• Is it hard to reach the light? - Place a lamp or light switch close to the bed to remove any need to walk in the dark.
• Is the path from the bedroom to bathroom or kitchen poorly lit? Add night lights or easy-to-find light switches.
• Ensure the mattress is at a height that is easy to get in and out of bed from.
• Place a telephone by the bedside.
• Consider glow-in-the-dark switches.

In The Living Room

• Are pathways clear throughout the room?
• Does furniture pose a threat to walkers or crutches?
• Are rugs secured to the ground, or do they need replacing?
• Ensure all chairs are secure and not wobbly when used or leaned on.
• Is there a cordless phone to avoid rushing to answer a phone?

On and Around the Stairs

• Are there any items such as books or shoes on the stairs? - The stairs should be completely clear.
• Are the stairs even and not broken?
• Are the stairs properly lit at night? - Ensure there is a switch at the bottom and top of the stairs.
• Is the carpet on the stairs loose or torn? - Make sure it is firmly attached and replaced if needed.
• Are there sufficient handrails and are they secure?

Other Home Safety Evaluation for Seniors Tips

Here are also some other home safety evaluation for seniors steps you can take to improve your loved one’s safety in their home:

• Install cordless phones, preferably one on each floor.
• Keep emergency numbers in large print in each room.
• Consider a phone near the floor in case your loved one falls and can’t get up.
• Consider installing an alarm device or asking your loved one to wear one for emergencies.
• Ensure your loved one isn’t alone during times in the day when they’re tired - such as with senior home care in the evenings or mornings.
• Ensure plans are put in place so that if an accident or emergency occurs, a caregiver, friend or family member can get to your loved one as soon as possible.

What Else Can Increase The Risk of Seniors Falling?

The CDC says that the following can increase the risk of falls amongst seniors:

• Lower body weakness
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Medicines and tranquilizers that cause a loss of vision, balance or strength.
• Vision problems
• Foot pain or dangerous footwear such as slippers

Which Rooms Do Accidents Happen in Most?

A study reported that the following percentage of falls occur in each room:

• 31% in Living Rooms
• 30% in Bedrooms
• 19% in Kitchens
• 13% in Bathrooms
• 10% in Hallways
• (This study did not include stairs).

Senior Falls and Accident Statistics

• 1 in 5 falls causes broken bones or serious injuries.
• 3 million people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries every year.
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.
• Over 300,000 people are treated for hip fractures every year in the U.S.

Senior Home Care Services in Tampa Bay, Florida

If you’re interested in Senior Home Care services in Tampa, Florida, contact Visiting Angels today. We specialize in referring senior home care caregivers to ensure your loved one is safe and thriving in their own home with a variety of care types, from respite care to 24/7 in-home care.