Home Safety Upgrades That Help Aging Parents Stay Put

If your parent wants to stay in their own home, the house has to keep up with them. A few changes in the right places prevent the falls and accidents that most often force a move.

Start in the bathroom. It's where the most falls happen: wet floors, a high tub edge, a low toilet, and nothing to grab. Grab bars, a non-slip mat, a shower chair, and a handheld shower head go a long way, and none of them require a remodel.

From there, do a room-by-room walk-through. Look for loose rugs, poor lighting on stairs and in hallways, cords across walkways, and things stored too high or too low. You can cover the whole house in about an hour.

Don't skip the basics: working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, a clear plan for medications, and simple daily routines that make mistakes less likely. An occupational therapist can do a home visit and spot things you'd miss.

Our full guide walks through the bathroom, a room-by-room checklist, fire and CO safety, medications, when to bring in an occupational therapist, and ways to pay for the changes.

Read the full guide: Essential Home Safety Upgrades for Aging Parents

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