Home Safety for Someone with Dementia: Room-by-Room Checklist
Home Safety for Someone with Dementia: Room-by-Room Checklist
Short answer: Making a home safe for someone with dementia requires removing physical hazards, securing dangerous items, and preventing wandering. You can lower risks by installing grab bars, locking away medications, and adding door alarms. Pennsylvania’s Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver can help pay for home adaptations and emergency response systems for eligible adults.
- Secure stoves, medications, and weapons to prevent accidental harm.
- Remove throw rugs and improve lighting to lower the risk of falls.
- Install locks above or below eye level and use alarms to prevent wandering.
- Apply for the PA CHC waiver to cover home adaptations and assistive technology.
- Hire a home care aide to supervise your loved one when you cannot be there.
Room-by-Room Dementia Safety Checklist
People living with dementia experience changes in memory, judgment, and physical mobility. Adapting your home environment protects them from falls and accidents. Safety needs change as the disease progresses from the early stages to the middle and late stages. You can use this checklist to review your home for common hazards.
| Area of the Home | Recommended Safety Steps | Reason for the Change |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen & Appliances | Use appliances with automatic shut-off. Cover stove knobs, remove them, or turn off the gas when not in use. Keep often-used items on lower shelves at waist level. Never use a chair as a step stool. | Prevents fires, burns, and falls while trying to reach items. (Alzheimer’s Association) |
| Bathroom | Install grab bars inside and next to the tub, and next to the toilet. Use a non-slip mat or self-stick strips in the tub or shower. Consider an automatic thermometer for water temperature. | Reduces fall risk on wet surfaces and prevents accidental scalding. |
| Floors & Stairs | Clear paths around furniture. Remove throw rugs or use double-sided tape. Fix loose steps. Install light switches at both ends of stairs. Coil or tape cords next to the wall. | More than one out of four older people falls each year. Clear paths prevent tripping. (CDC) |
| Lighting | Place a lamp within reach of the bed. Use a night-light on the path from the bed to the bathroom. Use brighter, even lighting throughout the house. Replace burned-out bulbs. | Poor visibility increases the risk of accidents, especially at night. |
| Doors & Exits | Install a latch or deadbolt above or below eye level on exterior doors. | Prevents unsafe exiting. Never lock a person in at home. |
| Hazardous Items | Keep medications in a locked drawer or cabinet. Remove guns and weapons, or keep them in a locked cabinet. | Prevents accidental overdose or injury due to confusion. |
For more general tips on protecting older adults, read our home safety overview and our fall prevention guide.
Preventing Wandering and Unsafe Exiting
Six in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once. Warning signs include returning late from a walk or drive, wanting to “go home” while already at home, restlessness, and pacing.
To assist with wandering prevention, maintain structured daily activities, especially during the time of day the person is likely to wander. Ensure basic needs like toileting, food, and fluids are met. Install door alarms and remove car keys if the person no longer drives. Keep a recent close-up photo and a list of places they might go.
If your loved one goes missing, search immediately. If you do not find them within 15 minutes, call 911 and tell the dispatcher the person has dementia. Many are found within 1.5 miles of where they were last seen.
Need help supervising a loved one? New Century Home Care provides non-medical supervision and personal care in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. Call 215-974-0000 or contact us online (choose “I am a client” and “I need services”). Our office staff speak English, Russian, and Ukrainian.
Paying for Safety Changes: The CHC Waiver
Modifying a home can be expensive. Pennsylvania’s Community HealthChoices (CHC) program offers financial help for eligible adults 21 and older who need long-term services and supports. The CHC waiver covers home adaptations, assistive technology, and Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS).
These benefits can pay for installing grab bars, modifying a bathroom, or setting up a medical alert system. To qualify, the person must meet functional and financial rules. The local Area Agency on Aging, which is the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) in Philadelphia, performs a Functional Eligibility Determination (FED) to confirm the need for care.
When Supervision is the Safety Plan
Physical changes to the house are only part of the solution. As dementia progresses into the middle and late stages, people often lose the ability to survive without assistance and need around-the-clock help. When someone cannot safely be left alone, supervision becomes the primary safety plan.
A home care agency provides non-medical workers to assist with activities of daily living and offer cueing and supervision. Services include specialized support for dementia, personal care, and respite care to give family members a break. Aides can prepare meals, assist with bathing, and supervise to lower the risk of wandering.
If you notice signs of caregiver stress, such as exhaustion, anxiety, or irritability, talk to your doctor and consider scheduling respite care. Sharing duties with a home care aide allows you to rest while knowing your loved one is safe.
Ready to set up home care? New Century Home Care offers companion care, personal care, and specialized dementia support. Call 215-974-0000 or fill out our contact form and select “I am a client” then “I need services.”
Frequently asked questions
My mom has Alzheimer’s disease. What should I do now?
In the early stages, your mother may still function independently. This is a good time to make legal, financial, and end-of-life plans while she can take part. You can also explore dementia care resources and talk to her doctor about home safety.
Is it normal for a dementia patient to wake up at night?
Yes. Sleep disruption is common in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s. People may also experience sundowning, which causes increased confusion, anxiety, and pacing from dusk through the night. To help, limit long daytime naps, avoid caffeine, and keep the home well-lit in the evening.
What are some online support groups for caregivers of elderly parents?
The Penn Memory Center in Philadelphia runs virtual caregiver support groups and a peer-matching program. The Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter also offers free local caregiver support groups by phone, video, or in person. You can reach their 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.
Non-medical home care in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties. Medicaid CHC (Keystone First), VA programs and private pay. We speak English, Russian and Ukrainian.
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