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 Bedroom
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Yes |
No |
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Is there a light switch near the
entrance to your bedroom? |
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Do you have a lamp or a light
switch near your bed? |
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Do you keep night lights or
other sources of light on in
case you get up in the middle of
the night? |
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Is there a clear path from your
bed to the bathroom? |
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Do you have a phone and a
list
of emergency phone numbers near
your bed? |
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Make
sure your bed is not too high or low, so
that it is easy to get in and out of it. |
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Garage/Basement/Workroom |
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Yes |
No |
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Are your workroom and laundry
room well lit? |
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Do you have a telephone in the
basement and a list of emergency
phone numbers? |
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Do you keep floors and benches
clean to reduce fire and
tripping hazards? |
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Are all your tools and service
equipment in good condition? Are
the safety locks on? |
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Is your work area well
ventilated, summer and winter? |
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Are heavy items on lower shelves
or in bottom cupboards? |
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Do you use a ladder or a stable
step stool (with a safety rail)
for reaching high places? |
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Are all chemicals, such as
bleach, cleaners and paint
thinners clearly identified? |
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Are flammable materials stored
as indicated by the directions
on the label and away from
sources of heat and flame? |
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If you have a gas barbecue, is
your propane tank stored outside
of the house? |
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Childproofing |
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(a must, for doting
grandparents) |
Yes |
No |
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Have you removed items from your
lower surfaces to prevent
breakage, injury and spills? |
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Are all medications and pill
boxes stored out of reach? |
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Are your cleaning products and
paints out of reach? |
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Have you installed safety
catches on your cupboards and
medicine cabinet doors? |
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Have you purchased safety gates
for stairs or unsafe rooms? |
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Is there a safety latch on your
stove and dishwasher? |
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Are extension, telephone and
venetian blind cords out of
children’s way? |
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Are your garage and workshop
locked with deadbolts installed
high on the doors? |
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PRINT
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Home
modifications |
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| If you’re thinking of
renovating, why not consider adding a few
additional safety features to your home to
help make it a comfortable and safer place
for years to come? Should you decide to
move, the increased safety and accessibility
could also be selling features. |
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Useful changes |
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Lighting
and switches |
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It’s important to have
plenty of well-positioned and well-diffused
lighting. If you’re having electrical work
done, consider adding lighting in high
traffic areas, in stairways, in closets and
over the bathroom sink and kitchen work
areas. Install switches at the top and
bottom of your stairs. Consider installing
all switches lower on the walls if someone
in your household uses a wheelchair. Rocker
switches are easier to use. Dimmer switches
allow you to leave certain lights on low,
for example, between the bedroom and
bathroom. |
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Electrical
outlets |
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Adding more
electrical outlets will help prevent
overloading or having to run electrical
cords across areas where they may be in the
way. Extension cords should never be used on
a permanent basis, since this presents a
fire hazard. Power bars can help prevent
short circuits and fires. |
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Doors |
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If you plan to
work on or replace a door, check the height
of the door sill or threshold. It should be
no more than ½” (13 mm) high. It may be a
good idea to reduce or remove the door sill
because uneven surfaces can lead to a trip
or a fall. You may also want to widen
doorways to accommodate wheelchairs or
replace doorknobs with lever handles, which
are easier to use. Also, consider the
advantages of sliding or swinging doors, and
doors that open outward. |
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Stairs |
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The backs of
stairs should be closed in. There should be
firmly anchored handrails on both sides of
the stairway (height 36 to 39 inches [90 to
100 cm]), which extend beyond the top and
bottom steps and are mounted far enough out
from the wall to allow for a solid grip. In
addition, the stairway should be well lit
and the steps should have a non-skid
surface. |
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Flooring |
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If you’re
replacing flooring, use non-glare,
slip-resistant flooring material. A hard
floor surface or tight pile carpeting is
best. Consider using the same floor surface
over different areas in order to eliminate
uneven surfaces. |
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Shelving |
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For efficiency and
convenience in your kitchen, consider adding
lower level shelves, such as between the
counter top and cupboard level. Lower
cupboards, sliding shelves and lazy-susans
in cupboard corners put kitchen items within
easier reach. You may also wish to install
lower shelves in your pantry and closets. |
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Taps, shower heads, grab bars
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| If you
plan to replace your kitchen or bathroom
taps, lever-type or control-arm-type faucet
handles are easier to use. Make sure you
install grab bars solidly on the wall studs.
A hand-held shower head is easier to use
when using a bath seat. |
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Locks and latches |
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Door locks in
bathrooms must have an emergency release.
Locks and latches should have large, easily
manipulated knobs or levers. The market now
has models that offer both safety and
security, such as push-button or card-access
locks. |
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Workroom |
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Windows and
overhead lights are a must. Additional
lighting should also be available over
benches and stationary tools. Adequate
ventilation systems are needed to vent
smoke, fumes and exhaust gases. Open windows
and doors may provide enough ventilation in
the summer but not in the winter. The wiring
must be of adequate capacity to handle
lighting, heating and power tool
requirements. |
