{"id":43,"date":"2026-11-01T12:57:35","date_gmt":"2026-11-01T07:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/?p=43"},"modified":"2026-11-01T12:57:37","modified_gmt":"2026-11-01T07:27:37","slug":"making-your-parents-home-safer-a-room-by-room-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/making-your-parents-home-safer-a-room-by-room-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"Making your parents\u2019 home safer: a room-by-room checklist."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most parents I meet want to grow old in their own home. It is where their routines, neighbours and memories are. The job for families is not to take that away, but to make the home work a little better for the years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Falls are a big reason this matters. The World Health Organization <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/en\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/falls\">estimates<\/a> that around 842,000 people died from falls worldwide in 2023, making falls the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths after road injuries, and about 71% of those deaths were among people aged 60 and older. The WHO recommends home hazard assessment and modification for older people at higher risk of falling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This checklist is about the home, not about health. If your parent has had a fall, feels dizzy or unsteady, has had a change in vision, or has started new medicines, speak to their doctor first. A physiotherapist or occupational therapist can also carry out a professional home assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"886\" src=\"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/cc-blog-06-room-by-room-1024x886.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/cc-blog-06-room-by-room-1024x886.png 1024w, https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/cc-blog-06-room-by-room-300x260.png 300w, https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/cc-blog-06-room-by-room-768x664.png 768w, https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/cc-blog-06-room-by-room.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Entrance and stairs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Good lighting at the door and on every step, with a switch at both the top and bottom of staircases.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A firm handrail on at least one side of every staircase, ideally both.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clear, contrasting edges on steps, so each one is easy to see.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A stool or bench near the door to sit on while putting on or removing footwear.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nothing stored on the stairs: no shoes, bags or newspaper bundles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Living room<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clear walking paths between the main chair, the door and the bathroom.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loose rugs and dhurries removed, or fixed firmly with non-slip backing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wires and extension cords kept along walls, never across walkways.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A sturdy chair with armrests, at a height that is easy to get up from.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The phone, TV remote, spectacles and water within easy reach of the main chair.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bedroom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A light switch or lamp reachable from the bed, and a night light on the route to the bathroom.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A torch or rechargeable lamp by the bed for power cuts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A charged phone by the bed, with emergency numbers saved.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A bed at a comfortable height for sitting down and standing up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Frequently used clothes on shelves that need no stool or ladder to reach.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bathroom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Non-slip mats inside and outside the bathing area, and a dry floor where possible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grab bars near the toilet and in the bathing area, fixed into a solid wall by a qualified professional. Towel rails are not built to take a person&#8217;s weight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A stable bathing stool with non-slip feet, if your parent prefers to sit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A raised seat or support frame if getting up from the toilet is difficult.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A light that is easy to switch on at night, and a door that can be opened from outside in an emergency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kitchen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Everyday utensils and groceries stored between waist and shoulder height.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No climbing on stools or chairs to reach high shelves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The gas regulator easy to reach and switch off, with the pipe in good condition and checked by the gas supplier as advised.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Good lighting over the cooking area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spills wiped up straight away, with a mop kept handy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Across the whole home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Footwear with good grip at home, rather than worn-out slippers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emergency numbers printed and kept by the phone: family, a nearby friend or neighbour, the doctor, and <strong>112<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A spare key with a trusted neighbour or relative nearby.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bright, even lighting in every room, with working bulbs replaced quickly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Doing this from another city<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You do not need to be there in person to make a start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Do a video walkthrough.<\/strong> Ask your parent, or someone with them, to walk you through each room on a video call while you go down the checklist together.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pick the top three.<\/strong> Start with the changes that matter most for your parent&#8217;s routine, usually the bathroom, the bedroom-to-bathroom route at night, and the stairs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use trusted local help<\/strong> for installations, and check the work on your next video call.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Respect their choices.<\/strong> It is their home. Explain why, agree together, and make changes gradually.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the wider plan, contacts, documents, emergencies and fraud, see our <a href=\"\/blog\/caring-for-parents-from-another-city-checklist\/\">checklist for families caring from another city<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where Cent Care fits in<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A safer home is one part of the picture. The other is a trusted person who visits regularly and notices when things change. Cent Care&#8217;s trained, verified Care Managers visit on a fixed schedule, log every visit and keep the family updated on their phone. They are not doctors or nurses and do not give medical advice. When something needs a professional, we bring in the family so they can speak to the right person. <a href=\"\/contact.html\">Book a free home visit<\/a> or read our <a href=\"\/blog\/choosing-home-care-for-parents-10-questions\/\">10 questions to ask any home care provider<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/en\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/falls\">Falls fact sheet<\/a>, World Health Organization, October 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#5f5f66;font-size:13px;line-height:1.6\"><strong>Important information.<\/strong> This article is general information and the personal view of the author, written for families. It is not medical, nursing, clinical, legal, financial, tax, investment or insurance advice, and it is not a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who knows your family&#8217;s circumstances. Always consult your parent&#8217;s doctor or another qualified healthcare professional about any health question, and a qualified adviser before making financial decisions. <strong>In an emergency, call 112 immediately.<\/strong> Government scheme rules, interest rates, eligibility criteria and deadlines change; always confirm the current position with the official website, bank or office concerned before acting. While we try to keep this information accurate and up to date, Cent Care Technologies Pvt. Ltd. makes no representations or warranties about its completeness, accuracy or suitability for your situation, and accepts no liability for any loss or harm arising from reliance on it. Statistics and figures are taken from the sources cited and may change. Links to external websites, apps and helplines are provided for convenience only; Cent Care does not operate, control or endorse them. Descriptions of Cent Care&#8217;s services are general; the terms of your service agreement apply.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most parents I meet want to grow old in their own home. It is where their routines, neighbours and memories are. The job for families is\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cc_reviewed_by":"","cc_reviewed_by_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,3,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family-care","category-safety-emergencies","category-safety-at-home"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44,"href":"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43\/revisions\/44"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cent.care\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}