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A room-by-room home safety checklist

A loose rug, a dark hallway or a missing handrail can all lead to a fall. Walk through the house with this list. Many of the fixes cost little or nothing.

The checklist below is my own wording of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Check for Safety" home fall prevention checklist. Where a fix needs a helper, I've linked the local pages that can help.

Floors

• Is there a clear path through every room? If furniture is in the way, ask someone to move it.
• Do any throw rugs slide? Take them up, or hold them down with double-sided tape or a non-slip backing.
• Are papers, shoes, boxes or clothes on the floor? Keep the walkways clear.
• Do cords cross where you walk? Coil or tape them along the wall. An electrician can add an outlet so you don't need the cord.

Stairs and steps

• Is anything sitting on the stairs? Keep them clear.
• Are any steps broken or uneven? Have them repaired.
• Is there a light over the stairs, with a switch at both the top and the bottom? An electrician can add one. Switches that glow in the dark are available.
• Has the stair light burned out? Replace the bulb, or ask someone to.
• Is carpet on the steps loose or torn? Fasten it down, or replace it with non-slip treads.
• Are there sturdy handrails on both sides, all the way up? Fix or add them.

Kitchen

• Are the things you use every day up high? Move them to shelves around waist level.
• Is your step stool wobbly? Use a steady one with a bar to hold, and never stand on a chair.

Bathroom

• Is the tub or shower floor slippery? Add a non-slip mat or adhesive strips.
• Do you need a hand getting in and out of the tub, or up from the toilet? Grab bars beside the tub and toilet make a big difference. Many handymen install them too.

Bedroom

• Can you reach a light from bed? Keep a lamp within easy reach.
• Is the way from the bed to the bathroom dark? Plug in night-lights. Some turn on by themselves when it gets dark.

A few more things that help

• Keep your cell phone with you when you can, in a pocket or on a lanyard, so you can call a neighbor or 911 if you fall or need help.
• Keep moving. Regular exercise builds the strength and balance that prevent falls. See Staying active for local places.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to look over all your medicines, including ones from the drugstore shelf. Some can make you sleepy or dizzy.
• Have your eyes checked at least once a year.
• Stand up slowly after sitting or lying down.
• Wear shoes inside and out, rather than going barefoot or in slippers.
• Use brighter bulbs, keep the light even through each room, and use light curtains or shades to cut glare.
• Paint a contrasting stripe along the top edge of each step so it's easier to see.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Check for Safety: A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults" (archived web edition), read November 3, 2026. The CDC's current edition is in its online library. This page is general safety information, not medical advice.