Fall-Proofing Your Home
Simple changes to the home that lower the risk of falls for older adults and young children.
Last revised
Key takeaways
- Older adults: about 1 in 4 adults 65 and older reports a fall each year
- Common hazards: loose rugs, clutter, poor lighting and stairs without railings
- Most useful single change: Remove throw rugs or secure them with double-sided tape.
- Commonest mistake: Standing on chairs to reach high shelves.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Why it matters
About 1 in 4 adults 65 and older reports falling each year, and many falls happen at home where hazards can be fixed.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Older adults | about 1 in 4 adults 65 and older reports a fall each year |
| Common hazards | loose rugs, clutter, poor lighting and stairs without railings |
| Bathroom | grab bars inside and next to the tub or shower and next to the toilet |
| Stairs | railings on both sides and good lighting at the top and bottom |
| Young children | window guards and safety gates help prevent falls |
What helps
- Remove throw rugs or secure them with double-sided tape
- Add nightlights in bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms
- Have your eyes checked at least once a year
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review medicines that may cause dizziness or sleepiness
- Do exercises that improve strength and balance
What to avoid
- Standing on chairs to reach high shelves
- Walking in socks or loose slippers on hard floors
- Using baby walkers, which the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against
In depth
Falls are not just accidents of bad luck. They usually happen when a person's balance, strength, vision or attention meets a hazard in the environment, such as a loose rug, poor lighting or a step without a railing. Reducing falls means working on both sides of that equation: making the home safer and helping the person become steadier. For older adults, falls are a leading cause of injury, including hip fractures and head injuries, and can lead to a loss of independence.
Many factors that raise fall risk in older adults can be changed. Muscle weakness, especially in the legs, and problems with balance are among the strongest. Certain medicines, such as those for sleep, anxiety, depression and blood pressure, can cause dizziness or drowsiness. Vision problems, foot pain, poorly fitting shoes and drops in blood pressure on standing all contribute. A fall itself is a warning sign, because people who have fallen once are more likely to fall again.
For young children, falls are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries treated in emergency rooms. Babies roll off beds and changing tables, toddlers climb furniture and fall down stairs, and children fall from windows and playground equipment. Their large heads, developing coordination and natural curiosity mean the home needs to be adapted as they grow. Supervision helps, but physical barriers, such as gates and window guards, protect children when attention slips.
Signs and symptoms
- Feeling unsteady when standing or walking
- Holding onto furniture or walls to move around the home
- Worrying about falling or limiting activities because of fear of falling
- Dizziness or light-headedness when standing up
- Tripping or near-misses, even without falling
- In children, climbing furniture or playing near open windows
Causes and risk factors
- Leg weakness and problems with balance or walking
- Medicines that cause dizziness, drowsiness or low blood pressure
- Vision problems, including outdated glasses and cataracts
- Foot pain and unsupportive or poorly fitting footwear
- Home hazards such as clutter, poor lighting and loose rugs
- Conditions such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, arthritis and dementia
- In children, unsecured furniture, open windows and unguarded stairs
How it is checked
Your doctor can assess fall risk as part of a routine visit or the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. They may ask whether you have fallen in the past year, whether you feel unsteady and whether you worry about falling. Simple tests, such as timing how long it takes you to stand from a chair, walk a short distance and sit back down, or checking how well you balance, help identify problems.
They may also review medicines, check blood pressure lying and standing, examine your feet and refer you for a vision check. If there are concerns, a physical therapist can assess strength and balance, and an occupational therapist can visit your home to identify hazards and recommend changes. Your insurance or Medicare may cover some of these services with a referral.
Related topics
- Falls Prevention: What Published Guidance Supports (Bone and Joint)
- Child Safety at Home: What Published Guidance Supports (Children's Health)
- Strength and Balance in Later Life: What Published Guidance Supports (Healthy Aging)
- Foot Care in Later Life: What the Evidence Actually Says (Foot Health)
Where to go next
- The Fall-Proofing Your Home Checklist: What to Do and What to Skip
- What People Get Wrong About Fall-Proofing Your Home
- Injury Prevention: The Complete Guide
- The Evidence on Safe Firearm Storage, Without the Hype
- Bike and Helmet Safety: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to get help
Tell your doctor about any fall, even if you were not hurt, since it can signal a treatable problem. Call 911 if someone cannot get up, hit their head while taking blood thinners, or has severe pain, confusion or a possible broken bone.
Where this comes from
- CDC — Older Adult Fall Prevention
- National Institute on Aging — Falls and Fractures in Older Adults
- American Academy of Pediatrics — Falls Prevention
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.