Begin by asking the person with a mobility issue where they’re experiencing the most difficulty in the home. Aside from mobility and safety issues, you can also help them think about other areas where they may be experiencing some difficulty, such as how and where things should be stored, how to clean certain things around the home, and how to make food and meal preparation easier for them. After you both have written some key issues and concerns down, go into every room of the house and really study each area, going through the person’s daily routine in your mind, and think about what they do in each of these rooms and what problems they may encounter. Every little thing, from the alarm clock in the bedroom to how the food is placed inside the kitchen cupboards, needs to be taken into consideration in order to achieve a good level of comfort, ease and safety.

Dissect the home room-by-room, including corridors and stairways, with special concentration on the most crucial areas for safety concerns, like the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen:

Bedroom:

• Alarm Clock purchase one that has large enough controls to make it easier to use than one with small buttons and dials.


• Bed position the bed where it will give the person enough space to move around it easily. Try and get an electrically-controlled bed that allows the person to regulate its height, If desired, you can also add guard rails that will help support the person when they need to turn over and keep them from falling out of bed.


• Bedside lighting use a heavy, stable lamp or some form of wall lighting with illuminated switches. Keep chords and wires away from where people walk.


• Nightstand use a non-slip or non-skid material on the bottom or base of items that are needed on the table.


• Rugs to prevent falling, tripping, or slipping, avoid using area rugs . If these types of rugs are needed or desired, be sure to attach the rug to the floor so it won’t slip when under foot, and avoid using rugs which are thick.


• Closet place storage items at eye level. Install concertina-style closet doors which slide and fold, making opening and closing easier. Fit door(s) with handles that are comfortable and easy to grip. Arrange clothes according to how often they are worn.