Home Safety Checklist for Seniors

General Safety Precautions

• Develop an emergency exit plan in case of a fire. This plan should include a meeting place outside your home to ensure that everyone has escaped.
• Safely hide house key outside and consider giving your neighbor a set for emergencies.
• Inform neighbors of any safety features in home that may restrict entry to your home.
• Notify local police department if your family member is memory impaired or has dementia.
• Leave the Emergency Information Front-Door-Bag on the inside of the front door in the event of a medical emergency.
• This bag contains health information, emergency contacts and general information specific to the individual.
• Take away house keys and car keys when necessary and disarm or hide controls for automatic garage doors.
• Keep flashlights in different parts of your home readily available, and check their batteries regularly.
• Keep items you use often accessible and easily reachable.

All Areas of the Home

• Be certain that there is adequate lighting throughout the house and install nightlights.
• Reduce clutter and remove furniture that is hazardous and may move when leaned on.
• Remove or lock up sharp objects/breakable items and remove all firearms from home.
• Ensure lamp, extension and telephone cords are placed out of the flow or traffic area.
• Secure loose and hanging cords and tuck them out from beneath furniture and rugs or carpeting and do not run cords across walkways.
• Do not attach cords to the wall and baseboard with nails or staples.
• Regularly check electrical cords for frays and cracks.
• Make sure you use the properly rated extension cord for use with appliances. If an extension cord is needed, use one having a sufficient amp or wattage rating.
• Avoid polished floors that may be slippery and remove all non-skid resistant rugs and runners.
• Use only slip-resistant rugs or runners.
• Check rugs and mats periodically to see if backing needs to be replaced.

Telephone Area

• Emergency numbers (i.e. Police, Fire Department, local Poison Control, Family and Neighbor’s contact information) should be written in large print and posted on or near the telephone area.
• Find a phone with large number pads and large speed-dial keys that can be programmed with important numbers.
• Supply telephone with direct dialing system for emergency/important numbers.
• Have at least one telephone readily accessible in the event of an accident which leaves you unable to stand.
• Make sure that there are working smoke detectors on every floor.
• Test your smoke detector batteries regularly (at least twice a year).
• Be certain that no outlets or switches are unusually warm or hot to touch.
• Ensure all outlets and switches have cover plates so that no wiring is exposed.
• Check that all electrical cords are free of frays. Put childproof plugs in outlets
• Lock up cleaning supplies, chemicals and poisons and install a carbon monoxide detector.
• Put opaque or reflector tape on glass doors and picture windows
• Put reflector tape on furniture corners, hallways, bedrooms to create a path to follow at night.
• Store all prescription and over the counter medications safely away and clearly labeled.
• Keep medication away from extreme humidity and temperature.
• Use appropriate size and type of light bulb for lamp or fixture.
• Keep electric fans out of reach. Cover radiators with radiator guards.
• Supervise or restrict smoking, use safety ashtrays and keep matches/lighters out of reach.
• Lock up valuables, important papers and documents and have system for safe mail retrieval.
• Regularly check all plumbing and utilities to ensure they are working properly.
• Relocate small stoves and space heaters away from passageways and flammable materials such as curtains, rugs, furniture, etc.
• Wood burning stoves should be installed by a qualified person according to local building codes.
  

Entrance

• Always keep floors and walkway uncluttered and doorway accessible.
• Make sure there is a safe entry into the house or apartment and that secure railing is available.
• Provide viewing of visitors prior to entry when possible.
• Put automatic door closing devices on doors to outside and alarms when needed.
• Secure doors to outside with double key locks, or high or low locks.

Living Area/Family Area

• Fireplace and Chimney should be clear from accumulations of leaves or other debris that can clog them.
• Make sure hallways and passageways between rooms and other heavy traffic areas are well lit.
• Keep exits and passageways clear of obstructions or clutter.
• Furnish chairs/sofas that can safely get up/down.
• Provide auto raising lift chair to assist getting up when necessary.
• Adapt seating with additional firm cushions to raise seat.
• Install key locked windows if necessary.
• Make sure senior is capable of operating all electrical components including television, stereo, telephone, lights, etc.
• Secure loose and hanging telephone and electrical cords and tuck them under carpeting and furniture and do not run cords across walkways.
• Remove rugs and runners that tend to slide.
• Use rugs or runners with slip-resistant backing.
• Apply double-faced adhesive carpet tape or rubber matting to the backs of rugs and runners.
• Repair and re-glue damaged sheet or ceramic flooring to smoothen bumps.
• Attach carpet stair treads securely.
• Remove glass topped tables or move them away from traffic areas.

Kitchen

• Maintain and regularly check to make sure appliances are in working order.
• Ascertain ability to manipulate sink faucets with hot water temperature settings reduced.
• Make sure electrical/appliance cords are not dangling near water or stove areas.
• Ascertain ability to open/close refrigerator/freezer/stove door/ and cabinets.
• Ascertain ability to reach dishes, pots, utensils, and outlets.
• Store sharp objects safely away.
• Keep flammables away from the stove area.
• Wear short or close-fitting sleeves while cooking.
• Make sure kitchen ventilation systems or range exhausts are functioning properly.
• Remove small non-food items that could be swallowed.
• Cover stove burners, remove knobs/shut-off valves/ and install auto-pilots when needed.
• Unplug or put away kitchen appliances not in use.
• Disconnect or camouflage garbage disposals.
• Ensure even lighting exist over the stove, sink and countertop work areas to avoid burns or cuts.
• If a step stool is necessary, choose one with a handrail that you can hold onto while standing on the top step. Make sure step stool is stable and in good condition.

Bedroom

• Locate bedroom near bathroom or furnish bedside commode.
• Use night-lights to provide nighttime orientation and visibility.
• Ensure safe transfer in/out bed and remove bed frame if bed is too high.
• Rent or purchase a hospital bed if needed.
• Supply bumpers or padding to surround bed if needed.
• Install reverse locks on doors when needed.
• Use monitor to listen to activity especially at night.
• Remove carpeting if incontinence becomes a problem.
• Install room darkening blinds or shades when needed.
• Make sure that the phone and light is accessible from bed.
• Make sure that clothes in the closet/dresser are reachable.
• Use flame-retardant mattresses, pillows, and sheets and plan procedure for fire evacuation.
• Remove sources of heat or flame from areas around beds.
• DO NOT smoke in bed.
• DO NOT “tuck in” electric blankets or place additional coverings on top of it. This can cause excessive heat which can start a fire.
• DO NOT go to sleep with a heating pad if it is turned on.

Bathroom

• Take special care with wet floors.

Bathtubs and Shower Areas:

• Install at least 1 (preferably 2) grab bars in tub and/or shower area.
• Check existing bars for strength and stability, and repair if necessary.
• Attach grab bars, through the tile, to structural supports in the wall, or install bars specifically designed to attach to the sides of the bathtub. Get a qualified professional to install if necessary.
• Remove any slippery rugs and/or use non-skid mats in the tub or shower, and on the bathroom floor.
• Apply textured strips on the floors of the tubs or showers.
• Use a stool with non-skid tips as a seat while showering or bathing, if you are unsteady on your feet.
• Install hand held shower nozzle.
• Replace glass shower doors with unbreakable plastic.
• Install grab bars, safety frame, and/or raised seat with armrests on or near toilet.
• Remove and/or replace bathroom accessories and decors that are breakable (i.e. cup and soap holders, drinking glasses, etc.).
• Lock up razor blades, sharp objects, and store away electrical devices.
• Make certain that light switches, outlets and toilet paper are always accessible.
• Install a night light or consider replacing the existing switch with a “glow switch”.

Water Temperature:

• Water temperature should be 120 degrees or lower.
• Always check water temperature by hand before entering bath or shower.
• Taking baths, rather than showers, reduce the risk of scald from sudden water temperature change.
• Store all prescription and over the counter medications safely away and clearly labeled.
• Dispose of outdated medicines properly.

Stairways

• Provide adequate lighting and ensure steps are free of clutter.
• Light switches should be located at both the top and bottom of the stairs.
• Install sturdy handrails along both sides of the stairway. If necessary, install handrails that run continuously from the top to the bottom of the entire flight of stairs.
• Replace worn treads or loose carpeting on the stairs.
• Avoid deep pile carpeting or patterned and dark colored carpeting that can make it difficult to see the edges of the steps clearly.
• Repair, remove or replace worn and torn stair coverings on the steps.
• Paint outdoor steps with paint that has a rough texture, or use abrasive strips. Replace outdoor stairs with ramps.
• Paint edges of outdoor steps white to see them better at night.
• Widen treads or shorten risers if necessary.
• Put reflector tape on edge of treads to see edge of steps clearly.
• Install barriers or gates at stairs if necessary.

Basement/Garage/Workshop/Storage Areas

• Work areas should be well lit.
• Ensure light switches are accessible.
• Be certain correct-size fuses are used in the fuse box or circuit breaker.
• Use power tool guards to prevent injury from sharp edges or moving parts.
• Be certain that containers of volatile liquids are tightly capped.
• Gasoline, kerosene, and other flammable liquids should be stored out of living areas in properly labeled non-glass safety containers.
• These should be place away from areas near heat or flame such as heaters, furnaces, water heaters, ranges, and other gas appliances.
  

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