Home Safety Audit Checklist, Fall Prevention for Elderly Parents

How to use this checklist

Walk the house with a pen. Tick pass or fail honestly. Most families find 15 to 25 failures on the first pass. That is normal. Tackle the red items below first, they prevent the most falls at the lowest cost.

Bathroom (highest fall risk)

1. Non-slip mat inside the shower or tub.
2. Non-slip mat outside the shower.
3. Grab bar beside the toilet.
4. Grab bar inside the shower.
5. Shower seat or bench (if standing balance is poor).
6. Raised toilet seat if hips are weak.
7. Hot water thermostat set to maximum 43 C.
8. Night light always on.
9. Door opens outward, or sliding, so rescue is possible if someone falls against it.
10. No throw rugs anywhere in the bathroom.

Bedroom

1. Clear path from bed to bathroom, no clutter.
2. Bedside light reachable from the bed.
3. Phone within arm's reach.
4. Bed height: when seated, feet flat on floor with knees bent 90 degrees.
5. No loose rugs beside the bed.
6. Walker or cane parked at bedside if used.
7. Motion sensor night light in the hallway to bathroom.
8. Cabinet handles that do not require fine grip.

Kitchen

1. Frequently used items (cups, plates) between waist and shoulder height.
2. Step stool available but only if balance is good, otherwise rearrange items.
3. Non-slip mat in front of the sink.
4. Lever taps, not twist knobs.
5. Kettle with auto-shutoff.
6. No throw rugs under the sink or near the fridge.
7. Clear floor space to pivot with a walker.
8. Fire extinguisher accessible.
9. Sharp knives stored safely, dementia risk.

Living room

1. Main chair has armrests and firm cushion (too soft = hard to stand up).
2. Chair height: knees bend at 90 degrees when seated.
3. Coffee table corners padded or rounded.
4. No extension cords across walking paths.
5. Phone reachable from the main chair.
6. TV remote one per chair, or velcro-mounted.
7. Clear pathway, minimum 36 inches wide, from entrance to chair to kitchen to bathroom.

Stairs

1. Handrails on both sides.
2. Handrails extend past top and bottom step.
3. Bright lighting at top and bottom.
4. Contrast strips on edge of each step.
5. No clutter on any step.
6. Carpet securely fixed, no curling edges.
7. Light switches at top and bottom.

Entrance and outside

1. Railings on outside steps.
2. Non-slip surface on outside steps and landing.
3. Motion-activated porch light.
4. Clear, even path from driveway to door.
5. Doorbell reachable without reaching up.
6. House number visible so paramedics can find quickly.
7. Emergency contact list posted on fridge and by front door.

General

1. All medications in one place, sorted by day.
2. Eyeglasses cleaned weekly, prescription current.
3. Hearing aid batteries checked weekly.
4. Smoke alarm in every bedroom and hallway, tested monthly.
5. Carbon monoxide alarm if there is gas or a generator.
6. Emergency call button or pendant, charged.
7. Shoes with firm non-slip soles, worn even indoors.

Priority ranking

Do first (RM0 to RM100): remove all throw rugs, add night lights, clear clutter from walking paths, test smoke alarms, set hot water to 43 C, put phone within reach of bed and main chair.

Do next (RM100 to RM500): grab bars in bathroom, non-slip mats, shower seat, raised toilet seat, motion-sensor lights.

Do later (RM500 to RM2000): replace taps with lever style, widen a doorway, install stair contrast strips, new firm-cushion chair with armrests.

Where to buy in Malaysia

Grab bars, shower seats, raised toilet seats, and non-slip mats are available at Alpro Pharmacy, Watson outlets inside hospitals, Lazada MY and Shopee MY (search "senior safety"). Budget RM300 to RM800 for a full bathroom fit-out.

When to call an OT for a home visit

If the audit turned up 15 or more failures, or if the senior has fallen in the last six months, book a home-visit OT assessment. They will prioritise, source products, and often identify modifications you missed. Home-visit OT in Malaysia costs RM250 to RM450; many private insurers cover it when a GP or specialist writes a referral.