Room-by-Room Home Safety Check-up

Surprisingly, there’s more to home safety and preventing falls than you might imagine! Discover where dangers and hazards may be lurking in your home or your aging loved one’s home.
Home

Room-by-Room Home Safety Check-up

Home Safety is Critical to Remain Independent

Surprisingly, there’s more to home safety and preventing falls than you might imagine!  Don’t be alarmed though, because most solutions to correct the problem are easy and low cost.   Discover where dangers and hazards may be lurking in your home or your aging loved one’s home, and then decide if you want to fix those things yourself or hire it done.

DISCOVER

(Click to See Answers)

How can I inexpensively adjust the toilet seat height (too low/too high) in our home?
Top recommendations from the National Institutes of Health and The University of Buffalo include:

  • Add a raised toilet seat for stools that are too low.
  • Install a portable toilet seat extender.
  • Consider a lower profile toilet for seats that are too high.
Where is it most important to adjust or add lighting inside and outside the home?
Good lighting is important throughout the home, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the University of Buffalo.  Common problem areas where lighting is especially important to preventing falls includes:

  • Entrances to the home and garage.
  • Hallways.
  • Under counters and over sink in kitchen.
  • Night lights in bedroom and along path/hall to bathroom.
  • Night light in bathroom.
Where can we find qualified home modification resources to help us with fixes?

Certified Aging-in-Place (CAPS) contractors and qualified home modification resources are designated by the National Association of Home Builders, and a map directory of resources is provided by the National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification.

FAST FACTS

%

The % of all Falls that Happen in the Bathroom (in people 65+)

The number of every minutes a person 65+ dies as a result of a fall, according to the CDC

DID YOU KNOW?

Fractured Hip and Brain Trauma are two of the most common serious injuries of a fall, according to the CDC.

AVOID THIS!

Fear of falling again is common.  People tend to sit or lay around and become less active, leading to becoming weaker…and  even more prone to a fall.

Fixing the issues that could cause a fall is top priority.  Depending on the size of the job and your time or ability to take care of the problems, you may want to consider hiring the work done.  For big fixes, many people look to contractors to to address home safety.  Before you make any calls, it’s wise to be prepared with specific questions, research on their qualifications and licensing, as well as being able to recognize home improvement loan scams.  A list of questions, tips and record-keeping guides is very helpful, and you can find fantastic ones at the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Information on Hiring a Contractor.

NOW WHAT?

Tools & Resources at Your Fingertips

Start by Checking the Environment for Safety

How Safe is Your Home?

Begin with an easy-to-use Home Safety Self Assessment Tool. Check each room, record what you find and review suggested solutions.

Does Your loved one have Alzheimer's or Dementia?

Understand room-by-room concerns by using this home safety checklist specific to persons with Alzheimer’s.

Home Safety Tips and Checklists for Each Room of the Home

The CDC’s Check for Safety guide is an easy to use tool to keep track of home and other factors that can help prevent falls.  Use this guide and continue to monitor for safe conditions.

Decide Whether to Fix it Yourself or Hire it Done

Is there a home modification specialist nearby?

Use this Interactive map to find help with Home Modifications by a certified specialist in your region.

Additional Valuable Tools & Resources

How do we hire a contractor?

The FTC provides guides and options for Hiring a Contractor.  Valuable checklists and questions to ask before and after a contractor is hired.

where do we go to find financial assistance?

Eldercare Locator is an excellent source for finding information on Home Improvement financial assistance and hiring contractor resources.

Pin It on Pinterest

Shares
Share This