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Check For Safety

This checklist is based on the original version
printed by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. Support for this version
was provided by MetLife Foundation.
2005
Check
for
Safety
PA Home Fal
Prevention
Checklist for
Department of Health and Human Services
Older Adults
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
For more information, contact:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
770-488-1506
www.cdc.gov/injury
FALLS AT HOME
Each year, thousands of older
Americans fal at home. Many
of them are seriously injured,
and some are disabled. In 2002,
more than 12,800 people over
age 65 died and 1.6 million were
treated in emergency departments
because of falls.
Fal s are often due to hazards
that are easy to overlook but
easy to x. This checklist will help
“Making changes in our
you nd and x those hazards in
home to prevent falls is
your home.
good for us and for our
The checklist asks about hazards
granddaughter when
found in each room of your home.
she comes to visit.”
For each hazard, the checklist
tel s you how to x the problem.
At the end of the checklist, you’ll
nd other tips for preventing fal s.
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FLOORS: Look at the
floor in each room.
Q: When you walk through a
room, do you have to walk
around furniture?

Ask someone to move the furniture
so your path is clear.
Q: Do you have throw rugs on
the floor?

Remove the rugs or use double-
sided tape or a non-slip backing
so the rugs won’t slip.
Q: Are there papers, books,
“Last Saturday our
towels, shoes, magazines,
boxes, blankets, or other
son helped us move our
objects on the floor?
furniture. Now all the

Pick up things that are on the floor.
Always keep objects off the floor.
rooms have clear paths.”
Q: Do you have to walk over or
around wires or cords (like lamp,
telephone, or extension cords)?

Coil or tape cords and wires next to
the wall so you can’t trip over them.
If needed, have an electrician put in
another outlet.
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STAIRS AND STEPS:
Q: Has the stairway light bulb
burned out?
Look at the stairs you use
Have a friend or family member
both inside and outside
change the light bulb.
your home.
Q: Is the carpet on the steps loose
Q: Are there papers, shoes, books,
or torn?
or other objects on the stairs?
Make sure the carpet is rmly
Pick up things on the stairs. Always
attached to every step, or remove
keep objects off stairs.
the carpet and at ach non-slip
rubber treads to the stairs.
Q: Are some steps broken
or uneven?
Q: Are the handrails loose or
broken? Is there a handrail
Fix loose or uneven steps.
on only one side of the stairs?

Q: Are you missing a light over
Fix loose
the stairway?
handrails
or put in
Have an electrician put in an over-
new ones.
head light at the top and bottom
Make sure
of the stairs.
handrails
are on both
Q: Do you have only one light
sides of the
switch for your stairs (only at
stairs and
the top or at the bottom of
are as long
the stairs)?
as the stairs.
Have an electrician put in a light
switch at the top and bot om of the
auls
stairs. You can get light switches
e P
that glow.
t
esy of Jak
t
o cour
Pho
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KITCHEN: Look at your
BATHROOMS: Look at
kitchen and eating area.
all your bathrooms.
Q: Are the things you use often
Q: Is the tub or shower floor
on high shelves?
slippery?
Move items in your cabinets.
Put a non-slip rubber mat or self-
Keep things you use often on the
stick strips on the floor of the tub
lower shelves (about waist level).
or shower.
Q: Is your step stool unsteady?
Q: Do you need some support
If you must use a step stool, get
when you get in and out of
one with a bar to hold on to.
the tub or up from the toilet?
Never use a chair as a step stool.
Have a carpenter put grab bars
inside the tub and next to the toilet.
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BEDROOMS: Look at
all your bedrooms.
Q: Is the light near the bed hard
to reach?
Place a lamp close to the bed
where it’s easy to reach.
“I put a lamp on each
Q: Is the path from your bed to
the bathroom dark?
side of my bed. Now
Put in a night-light so you can
it’s easy to find the light
see where you’re walking. Some
night-lights go on by themselves
if I wake up at night.”
after dark.
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Have your doctor or pharmacist
Other Things You Can Do
look at all the medicines you take,
to Prevent Falls
even over-the-counter medicines.
Some medicines can make you

Exercise regularly. Exercise makes
sleepy or dizzy.
you stronger and improves your
balance and coordination.
Have your vision checked at least
once a year by an eye doctor.
Poor vision can increase your risk
of falling.
Get up slowly after you sit or
lie down.
Wear shoes both inside and
outside the house. Avoid going
barefoot or wearing slippers.
Improve the lighting in your home.
Put in brighter light bulbs. Florescent
bulbs are bright and cost less to use.
It’s safest to have uniform lighting
in a room. Add lighting to dark
areas. Hang lightweight curtains
or shades to reduce glare.
Paint a contrasting color on the top
edge of all steps so you can see
the stairs bet er. For example, use a
light color paint on dark wood.
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Other Safety Tips
Keep emergency numbers in
large print near each phone.
Put a phone near the floor in
case you fal and can’t get up.
Think about wearing an alarm
device that wil bring help in
case you fall and can’t get up.
“I feel stronger and
better about myself
since I started walking
every day.”
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