Check 

for

Safety

A Home Fall 

Prevention

Checklist for 

Department of Health and Human Services Older Adults

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

P

For more information, contact:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

770-488-1506 

www.cdc.gov/injury 

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
FALLS AT HOME

Each year, thousands of older 

Americans fall 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. 

Falls are often due to hazards 

that are easy to overlook but 

easy to fix. This checklist will help 

you find and fix those hazards in 

your home. 

The checklist asks about hazards 

found in each room of your home. 

For each hazard, the checklist 

tells you how to fix the problem. 

At the end of the checklist, you’ll 

find other tips for preventing falls.

“Making changes in our 

home to prevent falls is 

good for us and for our 

granddaughter when 

she comes to visit.”

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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 doublesided tape or a non-slip backing 

so the rugs won’t slip.

Q: Are there papers, books, 

towels, shoes, magazines, 

boxes, blankets, or other 

objects on the floor?

Pick up things that are on the floor. 

Always keep objects off the floor.

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.

“Last Saturday our 

son helped us move our 

furniture. Now all the 

rooms have clear paths.”

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Q:Has the stairway light bulb 

burned out?

Have a friend or family member 

change the light bulb.

Q: Is the carpet on the steps loose 

or torn?

Make sure the carpet is firmly 

attached to every step, or remove 

the carpet and attach non-slip 

rubber treads to the stairs. 

Q: Are the handrails loose or 

broken? Is there a handrail 

on only one side of the stairs?

Fix loose 

handrails 

or put in 

new ones. 

Make sure 

handrails 

are on both 

sides of the 

stairs and 

are as long 

as the stairs.

STAIRS AND STEPS:

Look at the stairs you use 

both inside and outside 

your home.

Q: Are there papers, shoes, books, 

or other objects on the stairs?

Pick up things on the stairs. Always 

keep objects off stairs.

Q: Are some steps broken 

or uneven?

Fix loose or uneven steps.

Q: Are you missing a light over 

the stairway?

Have an electrician put in an overhead light at the top and bottom 

of the stairs.

Q: Do you have only one light 

switch for your stairs (only at 

the top or at the bottom of 

the stairs)?

Have an electrician put in a light 

switch at the top and bottom of the 

stairs. You can get light switches 

that glow.

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KITCHEN: Look at your 

kitchen and eating area.

Q: Are the things you use often 

on high shelves?

Move items in your cabinets. 

Keep things you use often on the 

lower shelves (about waist level).

Q: Is your step stool unsteady?

If you must use a step stool, get 

one with a bar to hold on to. 

Never use a chair as a step stool.

BATHROOMS: Look at 

all your bathrooms.

Q: Is the tub or shower floor 

slippery?

Put a non-slip rubber mat or selfstick strips on the floor of the tub 

or shower.

Q: Do you need some support 

when you get in and out of 

the tub or up from the toilet?

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.

Q: Is the path from your bed to 

the bathroom dark?

Put in a night-light so you can 

see where you’re walking. Some 

night-lights go on by themselves 

after dark.

“I put a lamp on each 

side of my bed. Now 

it’s easy to find the light 

if I wake up at night.”

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Have your doctor or pharmacist 

look at all the medicines you take, 

even over-the-counter medicines. 

Some medicines can make you 

sleepy or dizzy.

 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 better. For example, use a 

light color paint on dark wood. 

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Other Things You Can Do 

to Prevent Falls

Exercise regularly. Exercise makes 

you stronger and improves your 

balance and coordination.

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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 fall and can’t get up.

 Think about wearing an alarm 

device that will 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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