A room-by-room walkthrough to identify fall risks and prepare your home before a loved one returns from hospital. Two pages. Print-ready.
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalization for Canadian seniors — and most happen at home, in familiar rooms, doing ordinary things. The time to identify and fix hazards is before a fall happens, not after.
This checklist is designed to be walked through room by room, ideally before a loved one returns from hospital or during any period of increased fall risk. It flags the highest-priority hazards in each area and tells you what to address first.
The room where most falls happen. Covers the grab bar placements, non-slip surfaces, and equipment that make the biggest difference — and flags the common mistake of relying on towel bars for support.
A safe, unobstructed path from bed to bathroom at 2am is the standard to aim for. This section covers bed height, nighttime lighting, and the items that need to be within reach before your loved one gets home.
Storage height, floor surfaces, and everyday routines that create risk without anyone noticing. Covers the most common hazards for seniors who are still managing their own meals.
Stairs and exterior entry points in winter are two of the highest fall-risk areas for Canadian seniors. This section covers both — including seasonal hazards that a summer walkthrough will miss.
The room where seniors spend most of their time — and where loose rugs, cords, and furniture quietly multiply fall risk. Covers the changes that take under an hour and reduce risk immediately.
Any family preparing a home for a senior returning from hospital, adult children visiting a parent's home and wanting a structured way to assess safety risk, and seniors who have already had a fall and want to prevent the next one.
This checklist is a companion to the Falls Prevention & Home Safety: A Room-by-Room Guide — a full 6-chapter guide with detailed explanations, specific product recommendations, mobility aid guidance, winter safety, and what to do immediately after a fall.
Falls Prevention & Home Safety
6 chapters, 4 checklists. Specific product recommendations, mobility aids, Canadian winter hazards, and the full after-a-fall protocol.
See the full guide