Margaret's family thought they had time. She was 74, sharp, living in the same house in Shawnee Mission she'd raised her kids in. Then one Tuesday morning she slipped on a throw rug on the way to the bathroom. Hip fracture. Surgery. Three months in a rehab facility. She never moved back home.
One in four seniors falls every year, according to the CDC. That's not a statistic — it's a family emergency waiting to happen. The good news: most falls are preventable. This checklist is the one your parent's occupational therapist would hand them if they had it in front of them.
American seniors fall each year — and fewer than half tell their doctor. One fall often leads to a cascade: fear of falling, reduced activity, muscle weakness, more falls. Get ahead of it.
🚿 Bathroom
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Grab bar next to the toilet Not a towel rack — a rated grab bar rated for 250+ lbs. Install on the wall, not tile. Your parent should be able to lower and raise without using their arms to pull themselves up.
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Grab bar or grip rail in the shower / tub Inside the shower and at the entry. Non-slip mat inside and outside the tub — not a towel. Suction mats don't count; they fail.
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Raise the toilet seat A raised seat (3-4") reduces the force needed to stand. Many homes in older Johnson County neighborhoods — Shawnee Mission, Prairie Village — have older, lower toilets. This is a $40 fix with a $0 copay.
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Remove all throw rugs Area rugs, bath mats, scatter rugs. Even a small one is a trip hazard. Hardwood floors are safer than a rug your parent has to step over. If they insist on a rug, secure it with double-sided tape and choose rubber-backed only.
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Nightlight between bedroom and bathroom Install a motion-sensor nightlight that activates in the dark. Bathroom falls most commonly happen at 2am. A lit path changes everything.
🍳 Kitchen
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Organize everyday items between waist and eye level Move frequently-used pots, dishes, and food from high cabinets and low drawers to an easy-reach zone. Bending and reaching overhead both increase fall risk.
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Fix or replace wobbly chairs and step stools If a chair or stool wobbles, it's a fall hazard. Get it fixed or replace it. Step stools should have a handle to hold onto — never stand on a chair.
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Check floor for cords, clutter, items on the floor Extension cords, pet bowls, floor-level décor. Every item on the floor is a trip hazard. Walk the kitchen path with your parent and identify every obstacle.
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Non-slip mat in front of sink and stove Water and grease splatter make these areas slippery. A rubber-backed non-slip mat prevents the rug problem — make sure it's secured.
🪜 Stairs
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Handrail on both sides of all stairs One rail isn't enough. If there's a wall on one side, install a rail there — not just the open side. Grasp strength matters; test it with your parent's full weight.
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Handrail is 34-38 inches above the stair tread Standard. If the rail is too low or too high, it doesn't work when your parent needs it most. A contractor can adjust the height.
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Contrast strip on top and bottom step A bright-colored tape or painted edge helps distinguish the first and last step — especially important if lighting is poor or your parent has low vision.
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Remove items from stair treads Books, bags, mail, laundry. Stairs should be completely clear. Consider a small basket or shelf at the top or bottom of the stairs for these items.
💡 Lighting
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Nightlights in every room between bedroom and bathroom Hallway, kitchen, living room. Motion-sensor lights are ideal — they turn on only when needed and use very little electricity.
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Light switches at both top and bottom of stairs If the stairway switch is only at one end, install one at the other end too. If that's not possible, a remote-controlled light bulb is a reasonable workaround.
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Closet light switches near the entrance Closets are dark and high-traffic. A motion-activated bulb or stick-on LED light strip makes a big difference for almost no cost.
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Increase overall lighting in main living areas Seniors need more light than younger people to see the same space. Increase wattage in the most-used rooms — 75W or 100W equivalent LEDs are safe and cheap. Avoid glare, which can be disorienting.
🏠 Flooring & General
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All throw rugs removed or secured with double-sided tape This is the most common fall hazard in older homes — and the most overlooked. Even a small area rug by the front door is a risk.
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Wires and cables secured along baseboards or walls Use cord clips or cable covers. Extension cords should not cross walkways. If possible, move cords to the wall side of the room.
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Repair loose floorboards, torn carpet, and uneven transitions Even a quarter-inch height change is a trip hazard. Many homes in older Johnson County neighborhoods have settling floors and transitions between old hardwood and newer flooring. Tape down carpet edges and repair or replace damaged sections.
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Entryways and frequently-used paths free of furniture clutter Walk your parent's most-used path: bedroom → bathroom → kitchen → living room. Every piece of furniture or décor that sits in that path is a potential fall.
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Stable seating with armrests in living room Chairs and sofas with armrests give your parent something to hold when standing. Soft, low furniture is harder to get out of — it's one of the most underappreciated fall hazards.
💊 Medications & Emergency
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Medication organizer for morning / noon / evening / bedtime A 7-day pill organizer with AM/PM compartments reduces missed doses and confusion. If your parent takes 4+ medications, a pharmacy blister pack is even better.
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Pharmacy-printed medication list posted on the refrigerator Ask the pharmacy for a current medication list. Post it on the fridge in clear view — it's the first thing first responders look for. Include name, birthdate, allergies, and emergency contact.
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Emergency contact list posted in plain sight Name, phone number, and relationship for 3 contacts. Include the family member who lives nearest and is most likely to respond first.
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Medical alert device or phone within reach of bed and bathroom A wearable pendant or smartwatch with fall detection is not a luxury — it's the fastest way to get help if a fall happens and your parent can't reach a phone. Several options exist for under $30/month with no long-term contract.
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Regular medication review with their doctor or pharmacist Side effects like dizziness, low blood pressure, and orthostatic hypotension are common causes of falls in seniors — and many are correctable. A medication review once a year (or after any new prescription) can eliminate several fall risk factors.
What If You Find a Lot of Hazards?
That's actually good news — it means you caught it before a fall. Most of the items on this checklist cost under $50 to fix. A grab bar: $30-80 installed. A raised toilet seat: $35. Nightlights: $10 for a 4-pack. The total home safety upgrade for a modest 2-bedroom home often runs under $300 — compared to a single ER visit for a fall injury, which averages over $30,000 in hospital costs.
If your parent lives alone and you'd like professional in-home support — someone who can help with daily routines while also keeping fall risk low — call us. We serve Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Olathe, and Shawnee, and we do free 15-minute consultations to figure out whether home care is the right fit.
Need help making the home safer — or want a caregiver nearby?
We'll walk through your parent's situation together and recommend next steps. Free. No pressure.