Assessment and Intervention of Home Safety Concerns

What?

Home safety assessments involve identifying potential hazards within a home environment that may increase the risk of falls or injury. Common hazards may relate to lighting, flooring, furniture arrangement, the bathroom, and accessibility of commonly used areas. Interventions often focus on simple yet effective modifications such as adding non-slip mats, securing rugs, rearranging furniture to allow clear pathways, and installing supportive equipment like grab bars or handrails.

Why?

Many falls happen at home, where older adults spend the majority of their time. Addressing home safety concerns is critical because small modifications such as improving lighting, reducing clutter, and installing grab bars can significantly lower the risk of falls, promote confidence with mobility, and support aging in place.

How?

There are many common fall hazards in the home that can be identified using structured checklists. These tools may be provided to clients for independent use in the home, or they can serve as a framework for collaborative discussion with healthcare providers during clinic visits, in-home consultations, or community-based wellness programs.