Preparing the Home Environment

The following checklist contains general actions that need to be taken to prepare the home environment. It’s important to understand your loved one’s physical, medical, and emotional needs in order to determine which of the items on the checklist are important to his/her well-being and safety.

General

✓ Inside and outside door handles and locks are easy to operate
✓ Doors have lever-action handles instead of round knobs
✓ Windows open easily from the inside, but they have a secure locking system that can prevent someone from entering from the outside
✓ The light switch is located near the entrance
✓ Emergency numbers and caregiver addresses are located by each telephone
✓ Telephones are available in each room and can be reached from the floor in case of a fall
✓ The water heater thermostat is set at 120 degrees F or lower to prevent accidental scalding
✓ Medications are stored in a safe place according to instructions on the label of the package or container
✓ Room entrances do not have raised door thresholds

Kitchen

✓ Countertop space minimizes carrying and lifting
✓ Countertops and work areas are cleared of all unnecessary clutter
✓ Kitchen wall cabinets can be easily reached

Stairways and Halls

✓ Steps are in good condition and are free of objects
✓ Steps have non-skid strips. Carpeting on steps is securely fastened and free of fraying or holes
✓ Smoke detectors are in place in hallways and near sleeping areas
✓ Hallways are equipped with night-lights
✓ Sturdy handrails are on both sides of the stairs and are securely fastened

Living Room

✓ Electrical cords are placed along walls (not under rugs) and away from traffic areas
✓ Chairs and sofas are sturdy and secure
✓ Chairs and sofas are not too low or too deep to get in and out of easily
✓ Chairs and sofas have full arms to aid in sitting or rising
✓ Carpeting and rugs are not worn or torn
✓ Small, loose rugs have non-skid backing and are not placed in traffic areas of the home
✓ There is enough space to walk through the room leaving clear passageways for traffic
✓ Furniture, which might be used for support when walking or rising, is steady and does not tilt

Bedroom

✓ A lamp or flashlight is kept within reach of the bed. Check batteries periodically to make sure they are working, and keep a spare package of batteries nearby
✓ A night-light is used to brighten the way to the bathroom at night
✓ There is plenty of room to walk around the bed
✓ There is an adequate-sized nightstand or small table for the telephone, glasses, or other important items
✓ There is a sturdy chair with arms where your loved one can sit to dress
✓ The bedroom is located on the first floor of the home. A telephone jack is installed in the room

Bathroom

✓ The bathtub or shower has a non-skid mat or strips on the standing area
✓ Bathtub or shower doors are safety glass or plastic
✓ Grab bars are installed on the walls by the bathtub and toilet
✓ The towel bars and the soap dish in the shower stall are durable and are firmly installed
✓ A single-lever mixing faucet is used or faucet handles are easy to grasp
✓ Bathroom flooring is matte-finished, textured tile, or low pile commercial carpet (no throw rugs or bathmats)
✓ Bathroom has even lighting without glare. The light switch is near the door
✓ The bathroom door opens outward

Outdoor Area

✓ Steps and walkways are in good condition
✓ Handrails are sturdy and securely fastened
✓ Doorways, steps, porches, and walkways have good lighting
✓ Porches, balconies, terraces, window wells, and other heights or depressions are protected by railings, closed with banisters, closed with fences, closed with accordion gates, or are otherwise protected
✓ Hedges, trees, or shrubs do not hide the view of the street
✓ Garage doors can be easily operated, even when snow is piled against them
✓ The garage is adequately ventilated