A home-safety walk-through

Room or location

• Are doorways clear and wide enough for the cane, walker, or wheelchair used here?
• Are thresholds raised, uneven, or difficult to cross?
• Is lighting available just inside and outside each frequently used entrance?
• Can the person reach and operate the door handle and lock comfortably?
• Are steps and handrails at the entrance easy to see and use?

Room or location

• Are hallways and everyday routes clear of cords, clutter, or furniture?
• Do rugs or carpet edges move, curl, or sit unevenly?
• Are transitions between flooring types smooth or raised?
• Are stair handrails easy to reach and hold along the route?
• Can the person see stair edges and move through these areas with their usual mobility aid?

Room or location

• Are grab bars present inside or near the tub or shower, and are any loose or hard to reach?
• Can the person get into and out of the tub or shower in the way they usually do?
• Is the floor wet, smooth, or difficult to move across?
• Is there enough light at the toilet, sink, and bathing area?
• Can the person sit down and stand up from the toilet and reach the sink and daily supplies?
• Are towels, toiletries, and other frequently used items within a comfortable reach?

Room or location

• Can the person sit on the bed and stand up from it comfortably?
• Can they reach a light switch, bedside lamp, phone, or communication device from bed?
• Is the usual path from the bed to the door and bathroom clear?
• Are rugs, shoes, cords, or other items on the floor where the person walks?
• Can frequently used clothes and belongings be reached without climbing or stretching?

Room or location

• Can the person reach frequently used cabinets, counters, and appliances?
• Is the work area and stove easy to see while preparing food?
• Is the floor clear and comfortable to move across?
• Is there room to move through the kitchen with the mobility aid used here?
• Are appliance cords and other cords out of the usual walking path?
• Are pan handles visible and turned away from the edge of the stove?

Room or location

• Are rooms, hallways, stairs, and entryways bright enough for the person to see clearly?
• Can the person reach and find light switches where they need them?
• Is the outside entrance lit for evening arrivals?
• Are nightlights or motion-sensor lights used on routes taken at night?
• Can the person see changes in floor level, edges, and objects along their usual routes?

Room or location

• Does the home feel comfortable in the rooms used most often?
• Do the heating and cooling controls seem reachable and understandable to the person?
• Are air vents clear of furniture or stored items?
• Are smoke and carbon monoxide alarms present in the areas the household expects them?
• Are there cords, clutter, or other conditions the person would like a professional to review?

Room or location

• Are the usual exits and routes to them clear and accessible?
• Can the person reach a phone or communication device from the places they spend time?
• Are emergency contact numbers easy for household members to find?
• Are routes to doors and exits visible and lit at the times they may be used?
• Can the person open the doors they may need to use in an emergency?