Aging in Place Checklist: Room-by-Room Home Safety for Seniors
Most older adults want to stay in their own homes as they age. Falls are the biggest threat to that: more than 14 million older adults, about 1 in 4, report a fall each year (CDC). Many home hazards are cheap and quick to fix.
Walk through the home together with your parent. Take this list room by room.
Entrance and outside
- ☐ Even paths, no loose pavers or cracks
- ☐ Sturdy handrails on both sides of outdoor steps
- ☐ Bright lights at the door and along the path
- ☐ House number visible from the street for emergency services
Living areas and halls
- ☐ Clear walking paths; cords along the walls
- ☐ Throw rugs removed or secured
- ☐ Chairs with arms, easy to stand up from
- ☐ Night lights from bedroom to bathroom
Kitchen
- ☐ Everyday items between waist and shoulder height
- ☐ A sturdy step stool with a handle, never a chair
- ☐ Smoke alarm nearby; fire extinguisher reachable
Bathroom
- ☐ Grab bars by the toilet and in the shower (bathroom safety)
- ☐ Non-slip mat in the tub or shower
- ☐ Shower chair and handheld shower if needed
- ☐ Water heater at 120°F or lower
Bedroom
- ☐ Lamp reachable from the bed
- ☐ Phone or medical alert by the bed
- ☐ Clear, lit path to the bathroom
Stairs
- ☐ Handrails on both sides (stair safety)
- ☐ Light switches at the top and bottom
Fire and emergencies
- ☐ Smoke alarms on every level and by sleeping areas, tested monthly (fire safety)
- ☐ An emergency plan and a medical alert or daily check-in
Health
- ☐ Ask the doctor about fall risk and a medication review
- ☐ Yearly eye exam
- ☐ Strength and balance exercise
Then turn your notes into a plan, and see how to pay for changes.
General information, not medical advice or a professional home assessment.
The Aging-in-Place Home Safety Checklist turns this walkthrough into a printable workbook with a fix plan and emergency sheet.
Aging-in-Place Home Safety Checklist — $12
17-page room-by-room home safety and fall-prevention workbook with a fall-risk check, modification plan, ways to pay and a fridge emergency sheet. Instant download: PDF + DOCX + XLSX.
Get the Aging-in-Place Home Safety ChecklistAll 10 kits — $59More guides
- Fall Prevention Checklist for Seniors: Home and Health
- Bathroom Safety for Seniors: Grab Bars, Showers and Toilets
- How To Talk to Aging Parents About Home Safety
- Medications That Can Increase Fall Risk in Older Adults
- Does Medicare Pay for Grab Bars and Home Modifications?
- Home Modification Grants and Help for Seniors
- Medical Alert Systems: What To Look For (and Alternatives)
- Stair Safety for Seniors: A Practical Checklist
- Smoke Alarms and Fire Safety for Older Adults