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Home Safety Checklist For Seniors: Free Room-by-room Printable

In short: A home safety checklist for seniors walks you room by room looking for fall hazards: clutter, loose rugs, poor lighting, missing handrails and grab bars, slippery tubs and icy steps. Our free large-print printable is based on CDC, National Institute on Aging and Canadian guidance, and adds smoke and carbon monoxide alarm checks.

Download the free printable (PDF)

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of the home safety checklist: tick boxes for the bedroom, bathroom, lighting, outdoors and emergency readiness — Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of the home safety checklist: a to-do list table with job, who, by when and done columns, and a reminder to check again every season — Page 3 of 3

What the home safety checklist looks like. Click a page to see it full size.

Why check a parent’s home for fall hazards?

Falls are common and often serious. In the U.S., more than one in four adults aged 65 and older falls each year, and fewer than half tell their doctor (CDC). In Canada, falls are the leading reason for injury-related deaths, hospital stays and emergency visits among older adults (Parachute).

Many falls happen at home, where we move around without thinking about safety (NIA). Most fixes are cheap: a night light, a strip of tape, moving a cord. The CDC’s own “Check for Safety” brochure works the same way, pairing each hazard with a fix (CDC STEADI), and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Safe Living Guide takes the same room-by-room approach.

The home is only part of the picture. Strength and balance matter too, so pair this checklist with our balance exercises to help prevent falls.

The room-by-room home safety checklist

Walk through the home with your parent and tick each item that’s already done. Anything left unticked goes on the to-do list at the end of the printable.

Entrance and doorways

Outside steps are solid and even, with non-slip material
A sturdy handrail by the entrance steps
The porch light works and is turned on at night
A grab bar near the front door for balance while locking and unlocking
The doormat lies flat and doesn’t slide
The house number can be seen from the street, day and night

Stairs and steps

Nothing is left on the stairs: no papers, shoes or books
No broken, loose or uneven steps
A light and light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs
No burned-out bulbs in the stairway
Stair carpet is firmly attached, or the steps have non-slip treads
Secure handrails on both sides, running the full length of the stairs

Living room and hallways

A clear walking path with no furniture to walk around
Throw rugs removed, or held down with non-slip backing or double-sided tape
Cords and wires run along the wall, not across walkways
Low coffee tables and footstools out of the walking path
Sofas and chairs are a height that’s easy to get up from
You know where pets are when you’re walking

Kitchen

Things used often are on lower shelves, about waist high
A sturdy step stool with a bar to hold. Never a chair
Spills are wiped up right away
A chair or stool for preparing food while seated

Bedroom

A lamp within easy reach of the bed
Night lights along the path from the bed to the bathroom
A flashlight by the bed in case the power goes out
A phone near the bed
Glasses, hearing aids, cane or walker kept within reach at night

Bathroom

A non-slip mat or self-stick strips on the tub or shower floor
Grab bars inside and next to the tub or shower, and next to the toilet
Non-skid mats on floors that get wet
A light or night light left on at night

Lighting throughout

Bright lighting in hallways, stairs, walkways, bedrooms and bathrooms
Light switches at both ends of long hallways
Plug-in motion-activated lights where switches are hard to reach

Outdoors

Walkways, driveway, deck and porch are clear of leaves, branches and clutter
A plan for snow and ice, with ice melt or sand on hand
Non-slip material on outdoor stairs
Garden hoses and tools put away

Emergency readiness

Smoke alarms on every level, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas
Smoke alarms tested every month and replaced after 10 years
Everyone can hear the alarm, or there’s one with a strobe light or bed shaker
Carbon monoxide alarms near bedrooms if the home has a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage (see the Ontario rules below)
A fire escape plan with two ways out of every room, practised twice a year
Emergency numbers in large print by the phone and saved in the mobile phone
A way to call for help after a fall: a charged phone carried at all times, a medical alert device or a smart speaker
An emergency information sheet on the fridge

Most items above come from the CDC’s Check for Safety brochure, NIA’s room-by-room guide, Parachute and the U.S. Fire Administration’s home fire safety tips for older adults. Our fire safety guide for seniors has more on alarms and escape plans.

How to use the checklist

Do it together. It’s your parent’s home. Ask what feels risky to them, such as the basement stairs or getting out of the tub.
Walk the route they use at night. Turn the lights off and walk from the bed to the bathroom. Dark spots show up quickly.
Fix the free things the same day: clear the stairs, move cords, pick up rugs, change bulbs.
Write the bigger jobs on the to-do list with a name and a date: handrails, grab bars, an electrician for a stair switch.
Repeat it every season, especially before winter and after any fall, hospital stay or new medicine.

If a parent has already fallen, NIA notes that a doctor may suggest an occupational therapist, physical therapist or nurse to assess the home (NIA). For bigger projects, see How to Design a Senior-Friendly Bathroom, Senior Safety in the Bedroom and Renovations for a Senior-Friendly Home.

US and Canada: alarms and help with home changes

Smoke alarms: The U.S. Fire Administration says to test smoke alarms once a month with the test button and replace them after 10 years. It notes that older adults are more likely to die in home fires (USFA).
Carbon monoxide alarms in Ontario: Homes with a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage need CO alarms next to each sleeping area and, since January 1, 2026, on every storey (Ontario.ca). Rules differ in other provinces and states, so check with your local fire department.
Help with home changes: In the U.S., NIA suggests the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) to find a local Area Agency on Aging and home modification programs. In Canada, ask your local public health unit or municipality about fall prevention programs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common place for seniors to fall at home?

Stairs, bathrooms and the path to the bathroom at night come up again and again in CDC and NIA guidance, which is why lighting, handrails and grab bars are near the top of every checklist.

Should throw rugs be removed?

NIA says not to use throw rugs or small area rugs. The CDC says to remove them or secure them with double-sided tape or non-slip backing. Removing them is the safer choice.