Home safety walk-through
Room by room. Most of it costs under fifty dollars and prevents more falls than supervision does.
Use it when: There has been a fall, a near miss, or you are planning ahead.
Floors and routes
- Loose rugs removed or taped down
- Cables routed out of walkways
- Clear path from bed to bathroom, day and night
- Nothing stored on the stairs
Bathroom
- Grab rail by the toilet
- Grab rail in the shower or bath — not a suction one
- Non-slip mat inside and outside
- Raised toilet seat if standing is hard
- Shower chair and handheld shower head
Bedroom
- Lamp reachable from the bed
- Night light on the route to the bathroom
- Phone within reach
- Bed at a height where feet touch the floor when sitting
Kitchen
- Daily items between waist and shoulder height
- No step stool in use
- Automatic shut-off kettle
- Stove safety device if the hob has been left on
Whole house
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms tested
- Lighting bright enough on stairs and landings
- Handrails on both sides of any stairs
- Outside steps and paths clear, gritted in winter
- Consider an occupational therapy assessmentOntario's Assistive Devices Program covers most of the cost of approved equipment.