Room-by-Room Home Safety Checklist: For Aging in Place and Coming Home After Surgery (Free Printable)

Most falls at home don't happen because of one big hazard. They happen because of small ones: a rug that curls, a dark trip to the bathroom at 2 a.m., a step stool that's really a kitchen chair. The CDC reports that more than one in four adults age 65 and older falls each year, and falling once doubles the chance of falling again.

This checklist pulls together guidance from the CDC's STEADI Check for Safety brochure, the National Institute on Aging's room-by-room guide, MedlinePlus, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Use it for your own home, a parent's home, or to get ready for surgery.

How to use this checklist

Walk through the home room by room with the checklist in hand, ideally with the person who lives there. Fix the easy things the same day. Make a list of anything that needs a handyman.

There are two ways to use it:

• Aging in place: go through the whole home once, then recheck every year or whenever health or mobility changes. NIA notes that needs change over time, so the home should too.
• Before surgery: start about two weeks ahead so there's time to order equipment and rearrange. Pay special attention to the "Coming home after surgery" section.

Throughout the home

• Floors and walkways are clear of clutter, shoes, books, and boxes.
• Cords and cables run along walls, not across walkways.
• Throw rugs are removed, or secured with double-sided tape or a non-slip backing.
• Every room and hallway has bright lighting, with switches near the doorways.
• Night-lights light the path between the bedroom and the bathroom.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work and have fresh batteries.
• Emergency numbers are posted in large print near each phone.
• Frequently used furniture is sturdy enough to steady yourself on.

A plug-in night light that turns on at dusk, or one that brightens when it senses motion, means no fumbling for a switch. One example is the GE LED Night Light, Contour Dynamic Motion, which is dusk-to-dawn and brightens with movement.

Entry and outdoors

• Outdoor steps and walkways are in good repair, with no loose bricks or cracks.
• Steps have non-slip treads or textured paint.
• There's a porch or entry light, ideally on a motion sensor or timer.
• A sturdy handrail or grab bar is beside the door.
• A bench or shelf by the door lets you set down packages before unlocking.
• If someone uses a walker or wheelchair, there's a ramp or a plan for one.

Stairs

• Handrails run along both sides of the stairs, the full length.
• Handrails are tight and easy to grip.
• There's a light switch at both the top and the bottom.
• Nothing is left on the steps.
• Carpet is firmly attached, or treads are non-slip.
• Step edges are easy to see (a strip of contrasting tape can help).

Bathroom

• Grab bars are installed near the toilet and on both the inside and outside of the tub and shower (NIA). See Are No-Drill Grab Bars Safe?
• There's a non-slip mat or strips inside the tub or shower.
• The rug outside the tub has a non-slip backing.
• A shower chair or tub transfer bench is in place if standing or stepping over the tub is hard. See Shower Chair vs. Tub Transfer Bench.
• A handheld shower head makes seated bathing easier.
• A raised toilet seat or toilet safety frame is in place if getting up is hard.
• A night-light is on in the bathroom.
• The water heater is set to 120°F or lower to prevent burns.
• Towel bars and soap dishes are not being used as handholds (MedlinePlus).

For more detail on the bathroom, see Are No-Drill Grab Bars Safe?, Non-Slip Bath Mats and Tub Strips, and Raised Toilet Seat vs. Toilet Safety Frame.

Bedroom

• A lamp is within reach of the bed, so you never get up in the dark.
• There's a night-light or motion light on the path to the bathroom.
• The bed is a height where your feet rest flat on the floor when you sit on the edge (MedlinePlus).
• A phone is within reach of the bed.
• Clothes and everyday items are stored where you can reach them without a stool.

Kitchen

• Everyday items are stored between waist and shoulder height.
• A sturdy step stool with a handle bar is available for anything higher. Never use a chair as a step stool (CDC).
• Spills are wiped up right away.
• Stove knobs are easy to read, and safety knobs or an automatic shut-off are in place if memory is a concern (NIA).
• A small seat or stool is handy if standing to cook is tiring.

Coming home after surgery

Hip, knee, and back surgery change what's safe for a while. The AAOS notes that you'll likely need help at home for several days to a few weeks. Set these up before you go in.

For a full shopping list, see What You Need at Home After Hip or Knee Replacement.

Set up a recovery center

• Choose one sturdy chair with arms, ideally firm and not too low.
• Keep the phone and charger, medicines, water, glasses, TV remote, tissues, and a trash can within reach (AAOS).
• Keep a reacher nearby so you don't have to bend.

Live on one floor for now

• If you can, set up a bed on the main floor (MedlinePlus).
• Make sure there's a bathroom on that floor, or a bedside commode.
• Clear wide paths for a walker, at least as wide as the walker, through each room you'll use.

Bathroom setup

• Raised toilet seat or toilet safety frame (AAOS).
• Shower chair or tub transfer bench, set to the height your team recommends.
• Grab bars where you sit, stand, and step.
• Handheld shower and long-handled sponge.

Daily-living aids

• Reacher or grabber.
• Sock aid.
• Long-handled shoehorn and slip-on shoes with backs.
• Long-handled sponge.

Pets and carrying things

• Arrange for help with pets for the first weeks. Pets underfoot are a trip hazard.
• Attach a bag or tray to the walker so your hands stay on the handles (MedlinePlus).

Beyond the house

A safe home is half the picture. The CDC also recommends:

• Ask a doctor or pharmacist to review your medicines. Some can cause dizziness or drowsiness.
• Get your vision checked once a year, and update glasses as needed.
• Do strength and balance exercises. Ask about programs like tai chi, or a referral to a physical therapist.
• Talk to your doctor about your fall risk, especially if you've fallen or feel unsteady.

A medical alert for people who live alone

If you or your parent lives alone, or will be recovering alone part of the day, a medical alert device can call for help after a fall. The NIA lists emergency response systems as one way to prepare for a fall. Decide whether you need coverage only at home or away from home too, whether you want optional fall detection (it can miss falls, so the button still matters), and what the fees and contract terms are. Providers to compare include Alert1, with in-home and on-the-go systems, and LifeFone, with landline, cellular, and mobile options. My guide to medical alert systems walks through the choice.

Download the printable

Get the free two-page version of this checklist to print and carry room to room. It includes every item above with checkboxes and a short to-do list.

Free, two pages, no sign-up. Print it and carry it room to room. It has every item on this page with checkboxes, plus a short to-do list.

Download the printable PDF

PDF, about 105 KB. It has no links, so it prints cleanly.

More checklists worth a look

• CDC STEADI: Check for Safety
• NIA home safety checklist worksheet
• NIA: Preventing falls at home, room by room
• AARP and NAHB also publish aging-in-place checklists.

The bottom line

You don't have to fix everything in one weekend. Start with lighting, rugs, and bathroom grab bars, since those are the fixes the CDC and NIA mention again and again. Then work through the rest, and recheck whenever health or mobility changes.