My aunt fell in her bathroom at 3 AM reaching for the light switch. Broke her hip. Six weeks in rehab.
The worst part? It could have been prevented with a $10 nightlight.
One in four seniors falls each year. Over 800,000 end up hospitalized. Most falls happen at home in places you walk every day without thinking.
Here’s a simple room-by-room checklist to make your home safer. Nothing complicated. Just practical fixes that work.
Bathroom (Where Most Falls Happen)
80% of senior falls at home happen in the bathroom. Wet floors, hard surfaces, getting in and out of the tub. It’s the most dangerous room in your house.
Install grab bars. Not towel racks. Real grab bars that can support your full weight. Put them next to the toilet, inside the shower, and outside the tub. A study found homes with grab bars had 30% fewer fall injuries.
Add non-slip mats. In the shower, outside the tub, in front of the sink. The rubber ones with suction cups that actually grip the floor.
Use a shower chair. If standing in the shower makes you unsteady, sit. Get a sturdy shower seat with rubber feet. No shame in sitting. Falls happen when you’re tired or off-balance.
Improve lighting. 60-year-olds need three times more light than 20-year-olds to see clearly. Bright bulbs everywhere. Add a nightlight for 3 AM bathroom trips. Motion-sensor nightlights work great.
Raise the toilet seat. If getting up from the toilet is hard, get a raised toilet seat. Makes a huge difference.
Keep the floor dry. Wipe up water immediately. Use a bath mat that soaks up water, not one that gets slippery when wet.
Stairs (Second Most Dangerous)
Falls on stairs cause serious injuries. But stairs are fixable.
Install handrails on both sides. Not just one side. Both. Use them every single time. Even when carrying something.
Make sure handrails are secure. Grab them and pull hard. If they wiggle, tighten them. Loose handrails are useless.
Add lights at top and bottom. Light switches at both ends so you never walk stairs in the dark. Motion-sensor lights that turn on automatically are even better.
Mark the edges. Use bright tape on the edge of each step so you can see where one step ends and the next begins. This helps with depth perception.
Fix loose carpet. Tack down any carpet that’s lifting. Replace worn carpet on stairs.
Never leave anything on stairs. No shoes, books, newspapers, laundry. Clear stairs every single day.
Add non-slip treads. Those adhesive rubber strips that go on each step. They give you traction.
Bedroom
Falls happen getting in and out of bed, especially at night.
Put a lamp within reach of the bed. You should be able to turn on a light without getting up. Or use a motion-sensor lamp that turns on when you move.
Clear the path to the bathroom. Remove anything between your bed and bathroom. No furniture to navigate around in the dark.
Install nightlights. Along the entire path from bed to bathroom. Plug-in LED nightlights cost $2 each.
Adjust bed height. Your feet should touch the floor when sitting on the edge of the bed. Too high or too low makes getting up harder.
Keep a phone by the bed. Cordless or cell phone. If you fall, you need to be able to call for help.
Remove throw rugs. Especially small ones that slide. They’re trip hazards.
Living Room
Arrange furniture to create clear paths. You should be able to walk through without squeezing between things.
Remove low coffee tables. Easy to trip over, especially in dim light.
Secure electrical cords. Tape them to walls or run them behind furniture. Never across walkways.
Make sure chairs are stable. Get rid of wobbly furniture. Chairs should be easy to get in and out of, not so low you struggle to stand.
Remove or secure area rugs. Use double-sided tape or non-slip backing. Or just get rid of them. They cause more falls than you’d think.
Kitchen
Store frequently used items at waist level. No climbing or reaching for things you use daily.
Use a step stool with a handle. If you must reach high shelves, use a proper step stool with a handrail. Never use a chair.
Clean up spills immediately. Wet floors are dangerous. Keep paper towels handy.
Use non-slip mats. In front of the sink where water splashes.
Get rid of throw rugs. Same as everywhere else. They slide.
Hallways and General
Improve lighting everywhere. Bright bulbs in every room and hallway. Add lamps if needed. You should never walk through a dim area.
Install light switches at room entrances. So you can turn lights on before entering a dark room.
Keep floors clear. No clutter, newspapers, shoes, cords. Nothing on the floor that shouldn’t be there.
Fix loose floorboards. Any boards that squeak or move need to be secured.
Secure loose carpet. Edges that curl up are trip hazards. Tape them down or replace the carpet.
Outdoor Areas
Keep walkways clear. Remove leaves, branches, hoses, tools. Sweep regularly.
Fix uneven pavement. Cracked or uneven sidewalks cause trips. Repair them or mark them clearly.
Add lighting to entry areas. Motion-sensor lights near doors. Porch lights that automatically turn on at dusk.
Install a grab bar near the front door. Gives you something to hold while unlocking the door or carrying packages.
Use ice melt in winter. Keep walkways ice-free. Sand works too.
What You Wear Matters
Wear shoes with non-slip soles. Even indoors. Don’t walk around in socks or smooth-soled slippers.
Avoid long robes or pants. Anything that drags on the ground can catch your feet.
Other Important Things
Get your vision checked yearly. Poor vision increases fall risk. Update your glasses if your prescription changed.
Review your medications. Some cause dizziness or drowsiness. Ask your doctor if any medications increase fall risk.
Exercise regularly. Strength and balance exercises reduce fall risk. Even simple exercises help.
Stand up slowly. When getting up from sitting or lying down, take your time. Rushing causes dizziness.
Consider a medical alert system. If you live alone, a button you can press to call for help. Monthly fee but worth it for peace of mind.
Cost Breakdown
You don’t need to spend thousands. Here’s what basic safety costs:
Nightlights: $10-20 for several
Non-slip mats: $15-30
Grab bars: $15-50 each (plus installation if you can’t do it yourself)
Brighter light bulbs: $20-40
Non-slip tape for stairs: $10-15
Motion-sensor lights: $15-30 each
For under $200, you can address most fall hazards in your home.
The Most Important Thing
My aunt’s fall was preventable. A nightlight between her bedroom and bathroom would have stopped it.
Walk through your home and look for hazards. Really look. Things you step over every day without thinking are dangers waiting to trip you.
Start with the bathroom and stairs. Those two areas cause most serious falls.
You don’t have to fix everything in one day. Make a list. Tackle the biggest risks first.
Falls aren’t inevitable. Most are preventable with simple, cheap fixes.
Don’t wait until after a fall to make changes. Do it now while you’re healthy and mobile.
Your independence depends on staying upright.
