How to Make Your Home Safer for Those Receiving Care

Caring for a loved one at home comes with unique challenges, especially when it comes to ensuring their safety and comfort. Whether you’re a family caregiver or coordinating with professionals, creating a safe environment is essential for their well-being.

This article offers practical advice from our dedicated Country Cousins carers to help you make your home safer for those receiving care.

General safety considerations

Creating a safe home for someone receiving care starts with addressing general safety principles that apply throughout the house. These considerations form the foundation for a secure and supportive environment, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring readiness for emergencies.

1. Conducting a safety assessment

The first step to enhancing home safety is conducting a thorough safety assessment. Take a slow, careful walk through your home and examine each area with a critical eye. Look for common hazards that might be easy to overlook, such as:

Loose rugs or mats that could slide and cause trips or falls.
Cluttered hallways or walkways that might block mobility aids like wheelchairs or walkers.
Uneven flooring or thresholds, which can become tripping points.

It’s important to evaluate your home with the specific needs of the individual receiving care in mind. For example, someone with limited mobility may require wider spaces, while someone with visual impairments may benefit from high-contrast colours or additional lighting.

Consider enlisting the help of professionals to make your assessment more comprehensive. Healthcare providers, occupational therapists and home modification specialists can offer expert advice tailored to your loved one’s physical, cognitive and emotional needs. They can identify potential risks that may not be obvious and recommend practical solutions, from simple fixes like furniture rearrangement to larger adaptations such as installing ramps or grab bars.

2. Emergency Preparedness

While preventing accidents is essential, preparing for emergencies is equally important. A well-prepared home ensures that everyone can act quickly and efficiently in case of an unexpected event.

Fire safety measures:

Install smoke detectors in every major area of the house, including the kitchen, bedrooms and hallways. Carbon monoxide detectors are equally critical, especially if your home uses gas-powered appliances. Test these alarms regularly, ideally once a month, to ensure they’re working properly. Keep spare batteries on hand and replace them as needed.

Emergency contact information:

Make sure emergency numbers are prominently displayed in easily accessible locations, such as on the refrigerator or next to the phone. These should include:

Local emergency services
GP or healthcare provider
Any caregivers, neighbours or close family members who can assist quickly

Exit plans:

Develop a clear emergency evacuation plan for the household. Walk through the plan with everyone, ensuring they know the safest and quickest way to exit in case of fire, flooding or other emergencies. Consider equipment like evacuation chairs or assistive devices for individuals with mobility challenges. Keep all pathways to exits free of clutter and ensure they are wide enough for wheelchairs or walkers.

Medical readiness:

If the individual receiving care has specific medical needs, such as oxygen tanks, medications or mobility devices, make sure these are accounted for in your emergency plans. Create an emergency kit with essential supplies, including medications, water, non-perishable snacks, a flashlight, a portable phone charger and a first-aid kit.

Room by room safety tips

When creating a safe home for someone receiving care, it’s helpful to take a room-by-room approach. Each area of the house presents unique challenges and hazards, and addressing these systematically can significantly enhance safety and comfort.

Below are practical tips to make every room safer and more accessible:

Living areas

The living room and other communal spaces are often the busiest areas of the home, making it essential to keep them free of hazards.

Remove tripping hazards: Loose cords, area rugs, or uneven carpeting can cause trips and falls. Secure cords along walls and use non-slip rug pads or remove rugs entirely.
Clear pathways: Ensure furniture is arranged to provide clear and wide pathways, accommodating mobility aids like walkers, wheelchairs or crutches.
Enhance lighting: Poor lighting can make it difficult to see obstacles. Install bright, even lighting, especially in corners and near doorways, to minimise shadows. Consider motion-sensor lights for added convenience.
Stable furniture: Use furniture with sturdy construction and rounded edges to prevent injuries from bumps or falls. Avoid low or unstable coffee tables that can become tripping points.

Kitchen

The kitchen can be a particularly dangerous place due to sharp objects, heat sources, and chemicals. Making it safer is crucial for both caregivers and those receiving care.

Secure sharp objects and chemicals: Store knives, scissors and other sharp tools in locked or out-of-reach drawers. Keep cleaning supplies and chemicals in secure cabinets.
Choose safe appliances: Use appliances with safety features like automatic shut-off to prevent accidents. Induction cooktops are a great option as they cool down quickly.
Prevent burns and scalds: Install anti-scald devices on kitchen faucets to regulate water temperature. Monitor hot surfaces like hobs and kettles closely, and consider placing safety covers on cooker knobs to avoid unintentional use.
Keep essentials within reach: Arrange frequently used items like utensils, plates and cups on lower shelves to reduce the need for reaching or climbing.

Bathroom

The bathroom is often the most hazardous room in the house due to slippery surfaces. A few modifications can make it much safer:

Install grab bars: Place grab bars near the toilet, in the shower and next to the bathtub to provide extra stability. Ensure they are securely anchored to the wall.
Use non-slip mats: Place non-slip mats both inside the bathtub or shower and on the bathroom floor to reduce the risk of slipping.
Consider walk-in tubs or showers: A walk-in tub or shower eliminates the need to step over high edges, making bathing safer and more accessible. Add a shower chair or bench for added comfort.
Adjust water temperature: Set the water heater to a safe temperature (typically below 120°F or 49°C) to prevent accidental burns.

Bedroom

A safe and comfortable bedroom is essential for restful sleep and ease of movement during the night.

Adjust bed height: Ensure the bed is at a comfortable height to make getting in and out easier. Use a bed rail if additional support is needed.
Keep essentials close: Place a phone, medical alert device, water and other necessities on a bedside table within easy reach.
Clear the floor: Remove cords, shoes and other items from the floor to create a clear path. Consider adding nightlights to illuminate the path to the bathroom.

Stairs and hallways

Stairs and hallways are common areas for trips and falls, so securing them is vital.

Install handrails: Place sturdy handrails on both sides of the stairs for added support. Ensure they extend slightly beyond the top and bottom steps.
Add non-slip treads: Apply non-slip treads to wooden or tiled stairs to improve traction.
Improve lighting: Keep hallways and staircases well-lit by installing bright overhead lights. Motion-activated lights can be particularly helpful for nightime use.
Remove clutter: Keep hallways and staircases free from obstacles like shoes, boxes or bags.

Maintaining the care environment

Creating a safe and supportive home environment for someone receiving care isn’t a one-time task—it’s an ongoing process that requires regular attention and adaptability.

As the needs and abilities of the person in care change, the home must evolve to continue providing a secure and comfortable space. Here’s how to maintain and improve the care environment over time:

Schedule regular safety checks for loose flooring, lighting and assistive equipment.
Adjust furniture placement or room layouts to match changing mobility needs.
Upgrade safety features, such as installing additional grab bars or non-slip surfaces.
Ensure emergency plans and contact information are updated and easily accessible.
Keep communication open to address new concerns or preferences from the person in care.
Educate family members and visitors on safety protocols to maintain a consistent environment.

How Country Cousins can help

If you decide that live-in care is the most appropriate form of care for you or your loved one, your first step should be to contact an introductory live-in care service such as Country Cousins. At Country Cousins, we offer a variety of different types of care at home services, depending on your individual health and care needs.

With more than 60 years of experience, we have extensive expertise in a wide range of home care services. You can trust us to help you find the most suitable carer to support your loved one in line with their personal preferences and wishes. For more information on selecting live-in care for you or your elderly loved one, check out our guide to live-in care.

Talk to our team today

If you are considering live-in care for you or your loved one, get in touch with us at Country Cousins today. We are the UK’s longest-serving introductory care agency, having provided compassionate care to people in their own homes since 1959.

Give us a call today should you have any questions about home care. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.