Home Safety Walk-Through – Use Our Room/To/Room Checklist

First Response System’s Fall Prevention Home Safety Plan makes it easy for an Older Adult to conduct their own ‘Home Safety Assessment’.   You can review the checklist for each room to specifically identify “home hazards” that can likely lead to falling and put in place “home modifications” to reduce the potential risk of falling. This checklist will give you the knowledge and confidence to conduct the home walk-through by yourself or with a family member caregiver, friend, health care provider or local community agency within the privacy of your own home.

Adopt a Culture of Safety – Reduce the Risk of Falling Up to 75%

Your walk-through consists of a room-by-room review of any obstacles (home hazards) that promote your risk of falling.  Each room environment offers different characteristics that pose a threat for falling.  Our Home Safety Guide creates a “safety zone” for each one of your rooms. A handy, easy-to-understand checklist helps you to identify and modify (change) these home hazards.  Research trials have shown that by using these room specific checklists, you can effectively reduce the risk of falling up to 75% over time.

Task #1: Conduct your room-by-room walk-through to identify home hazards

Task #2: Follow-up to remove and/or modify any identified hazards

Task #3: Update your walk-through and checklist every 3 to 6 months

MY WALK-THROUGH CHECKLIST

The following checklist is for demonstration purposes only.  The actual full-length home safety checklist can found in our Home Safety Guide.

 Every Room

• Remove all clutter from pathways
• Clear/open floor space between furniture
• Create a bright, direct lighting environment (floor to ceiling; tasks)
• Night lights in each room (motion sensor; auto off/on models)
• Doorbell and land line phones are audible; illuminated wall switches

Living Room/Dining Room

• Rugs and stretched carpeting secured to floor; remove scatter rugs
• Electrical cords/extensions run along walls/under furniture
• Daily items are within arms length/waist level; do not reach up/down

Kitchen

• Brighten task lighting at counter, sink and oven areas
• Appliances and daily food items stored at waist level and accessible

Bedroom

• Bedside and top of bed free of clutter and piles
• Night stand within easy reach from bed; store flashlight and necessities

Bathroom

• Equip tub with non-skid matting or strips (replace every 3-6 months)
• Use hand held shower massager for bathing
• Install sturdy grab bar(s) on wall and tub edge for better access

Stairs/Hallways/Doors

• Check/install door handles (levers), hinges and locks are firmly attached
• Install non-slip treads over bare wood steps; bright colored tape on each step

House & Property

Once all home hazards have been identified and modified (removed and/or changed), the final step is to invest (at a modest monthly expense) in a First Response emergency medical alert system.  This will ensure medical alert monitoring and protection throughout the house and property on a 24-hour, seven days a week basis.