Our homes fulfill many needs for us. Often, the most basic need is for shelter from the elements and intruders. Once we are protected and secure, other needs can be met. Comfort and a place for self-expression are vital for our well-being. Home gives a feeling of independence. Our home should also be a place in which we can be safe from accidents and injuries.

You must feel safe and secure in order to be able to relax, so be security conscious. Put strong dead bolt locks on front and back doors. If your situation allows, install a burglar alarm system. A peephole for all outside doors will let you can see who is at the door before you open it. Install the peephole at the proper height for you. The most effective peepholes allow you to see a range of 180 degrees from side to side.

Home accidents are a major source of injuries and can cause death. Older persons, whose bones are often less dense and more brittle, are especially vulnerable to serious injuries from home accidents. A simple fall that results in a broken bone can become a serious, disabling injury that limits one’s independence.

As we age, our senses of sight, touch, hearing, and smell tend to decline. Our physical abilities are reduced, and certain tasks such as stretching, lifting, and bending become more difficult. In addition, we also experience a slowing of judgment and reaction time. As a result, we cannot respond as quickly as when we were younger. These normal changes in perception, physical abilities, and judgment make us more prone to accidents. Simple precautions and adjustments can help ensure a safe, accident-free home.

On the following pages, you will find a series of checklists. Use these lists as you go through your home. Make a check mark next to those items or behaviors that you already have.
If there are items that you do not check, then your home is not as safe as it could be. By improving those items not marked, you can make your home a safer and more comfortable place to live. While the suggestions in this publication are for older people, they apply to all age groups as well.

_____Emergency numbers and your address are posted by each telephone.
_____Telephones are located in each room. They can be reached from the floor in case of a fall.
_____Inside and outside door handles and locks are easy to operate.
_____Doors have lever-action handles instead of round knobs.
_____Door thresholds are low and beveled or there are no thresholds.
_____Windows open easily from the inside, but they have a secure locking system that can prevent someone from entering from the outside.
_____The water heater thermostat is set at 120°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.
_____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.
_____Appliances, lamps, and cords are clean and in good condition.
_____There are no exposed, glaring bulbs in lamps or fixtures.
_____All electrical equipment bears the Underwriters laboratories (UL) label.
_____Outlets are located where they are needed in every room.
_____Electrical overload protection is provided by circuit breakers, fuses, or ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). GFCIs prevent electrical shock and are particularly important in areas where water is used, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and outside.
_____Electrical service has enough capacity to serve the house and is up to code. (You can call your municipal electrical inspector or a reputable electrical contractor to check the wiring in your house.)
_____Extension cords do not carry more than their proper load as indicated on the cord or appliance.
_____Electrical cords are placed out of the flow of traffic and out from underneath rugs and furniture.
_____Smoke alarms are present in the home and are in working order. One way to help you remember to change the batteries is to replace them on your birthday—don’t forget to mark it on your calendar.

_____The range and sink areas have adequate light levels.
_____If you have a gas range, it is equipped with pilot lights and an automatic cut-off in the event of flame failure. (Your local utility service representative can check this for you.)
_____The range is not where curtains might fall onto a burner.
_____If you have an exhaust hood for the oven, it has easily removable filters for proper cleaning. Clean filters as needed.
_____The kitchen exhaust system is internally vented, discharges directly outside, or discharges through ducts to the outside and not into the attic or other unused space.
_____Countertop space lets you keep carrying and lifting to a minimum.
_____Kitchen wall cabinets are not too high to be easily reached.
_____Lighting of counter tops is enough for meal preparation.
_____Light switches are located near the doors.
_____Shiny or glaring work surfaces are not used.
_____Oven controls are clearly marked and easily grasped.
_____Oven controls are located on the front or side of the oven, so that you don’t have to reach over the burners.
_____A single-lever mixing faucet is used. This type of faucet controls both the hot and cold water flow with a single control.
_____Flooring is not slippery and has a non-glare surface.
_____When cooking, pan handles are turned away from other burners and the edge of the range.
_____When cooking, you do not wear garments with long, loose sleeves.
_____Hot pads and pan holders are kept near the range.
_____If you have a microwave, it is operated only when there is food in it.
_____Small appliances are unplugged when not in use.
_____Knives are kept in a knife rack or drawer.
_____Countertops and work areas are cleared of all unnecessary objects.
_____Drawers and cupboards are kept closed.
_____A sturdy, stable stepladder or step stool is used rather than a chair to reach objects in overhead cabinets.
_____Grease or liquid spills are wiped up at once.

_____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 stairway and are securely fastened.
_____Light switches are located at the top and bottom of stairways and at both ends of long hallways.
_____Inside doors do not swing out over stair steps.
_____There is enough space in the stairway to avoid bumping your head.
_____Room entrances do not have raised door thresholds.
_____It is easy to see the leading edge or nosing of each stair tread while walking down stairs.
_____Stairways and hallways are well lighted.

​_____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.
​_____The light switch is located near the entrance.
_____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.

​​_____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 you have faucet handles that 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.
​​_____The bathroom has a safe supplemental heat source and ventilation system.
​​_____The outlets are ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) that protect against electric shock.

​​_____A lamp or flashlight is kept within reach of your 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.
​​_____Plenty of room is left for you to walk around the bed.
​​_____You have an adequate-sized nightstand or small table for the telephone, glasses, or other important items.
​​_____There is a sturdy chair with arms where you can sit to dress.
​​_____You have wall-to-wall low pile carpeting or a smooth surface floor.
​​_____Your bedroom is located on the first floor of the home. A telephone jack is installed in the room.

​​​_____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 are easy for you to operate, even when snow is piled against them.
​​​_____The garage is adequately ventilated.

American Association of Retired Persons. (1985). The Do-Able Renewable House. AARP: Washington, DC.

American Red Cross. (1984). Independent Living Services. Home Safety.

Boschetti, M.A. (1990). Reflections on home: Implications for housing design for elderly persons. Housing and Society, 17(3), pp. 57 - 65.

Brent, E.E. and Brent, R. S. (1987). ERHAP: An artificial intelligence expert system for assessing the housing of elderly residents. Housing and Society, 14(3), pp. 215 - 230.

Golant, S.M. (.1986). Subjective housing assessments by the elderly: A critical information source for planning and program evaluation. The Gerontologist, 26(2), pp. 122-127.

Herman, G. As We Grow Older ... Housing Needs in Later Years. N.C. Cooperative Extension.

Howell, S.C. (1985). Home: A source of meaning in elder’s lives. Generations, 9(3), pp. 58-60.

Mace, R. L. (1991). The Accessible Housing Design File. Van Nostrand Reinhold: New York.

Norrgard, L. (Spring, 1995). Consumer Protection and New Technologies. Generations, 19(1), pp. 47-48.

Pynoos, J. and Cohen, E. (1990). Home Safety Guide for Older People: Check It Out, Fix It Up. Self Press, Inc: Washington, DC.

Raschko, B.B. (1982). Housing Interiors for the Elderly and Disabled. Van Nostrand Reinhold: New York. Stoppard, M. The Best Years of Your Life. Dorling Kindersly Limited: London.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (1985). Home Safety Checklist for Older Consumers. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Human Development Services, Administration on Aging).

Weisman, J. Housing as We Grow Older: Design Considerations for a Supportive Environment. Cooperative Extension Services of the Northeast States.