General Home Safety
- Maintain well-lighted areas in and around the home.
- Use nightlights.
- Keep floors free of obstacles.
- Fasten loose rugs to the floor.
- Select low, dense-pile carpet rather than shag.
- Wear low-healed, well-fitting shoes with good traction.
- Select furniture with rounded edges.
- Use padded furniture and put protective padding around the corners of tables.
- Avoid glass and mirror tiles as well as floor or table lamps when decorating.
- Place furniture against the wall whenever possible.
- Portable phones or beepers provide a way to call for help from any part of the house.
- Look for ground level entry when purchasing or renting a house.
- Install handrails on both sides of a staircase.
- Staircases with several landings are recommended to prevent long falls.
- Bungalows and split-level houses are safer than two-storey homes.
- Consider sitting as you go up or down stairs.
- Forced air heating is preferable to exposed heating elements such as radiators and baseboard heaters.
- If you require a wheelchair, use one with a leg recliner and padded arms.
Seniors and others who may be vulnerable and who live alone can work out a simple code with friends and neighbours. A flower pot in the window, or a shade that is lowered and raised according to a schedule, can reassure friends and neighbours that all is well, or alert them if there are problems.
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