Home Modification to Make Your Home Safer

Making changes to your home – also known as home modifications – can make activities easier, improve your health and wellness, and reduce your chances of falling. These changes can include removing hazards, adding supports such as handrails, or changing how or where you do activities. 

Below are some suggestions to make your home safer: 

1. Keep pathways clear   

Keep stairs and walkways clear by removing objects that you could trip over.  Add storage for things that are usually on the floor, such as shoes or papers. 

2. Be aware of uneven surfaces    

Look out for changes in the level of flooring, such as in doorways or in between carpeting and tile. Remove throw rugs or use a rug gripper underneath to secure them to the floor.  If you can move a rug easily with your foot, you could slip on it. 

3. Keep frequently used items close by 

Reaching up high or bending down low can cause you to lose balance. For example - in the kitchen, make sure that cooking supplies and other items that you use often are easy to reach. 

4. Light your way

Install bright lights, have switches at both ends of stairways, and use night      lights to light the path from your bedroom to bathroom. Light switches that glow are easier to see in the dark. 

5. Add supports in the bathroom 

Bathrooms can be dangerous, especially when things are wet. Put grab bars near the toilet and in the shower.  Non-skid strips in the bathtub can keep you from slipping. 

6. Stay safe on the stairs

Consider installing handrails on both sides of the stairs. If you already have handrails, be sure you use them.  Check that they are properly installed and not loose. 

As your abilities change over the years, your home should provide you and your loved ones with the support you need to do your daily activities and the things that you enjoy. 

These facts were distributed by the Fall Prevention Coalition - Los Angeles (FPC-LA), supported by the Kaiser Foundation; and created by the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence (FPCE), supported by the Archstone Foundation.  

For more information, visit www.stopfalls.org, call (213) 740-1364, or email info@stopfalls.org. 

Home Modification www.stopfalls.org