Aging in Place Home Safety Assessment: Look for these 10 Red Flags

How do I know when it's time to start making safety changes in your own home or a loved one's home? When do I need a home safety assessment to improve a home's setup? Whether it's someone who is aging, differently-abled, or a person who experiences a sudden change in function due to a traumatic event, it is important to know when to start making home safety changes. The red flags listed below can lead to falls, injuries, hospitalizations, inpatiatient rehabilitation facility admissions, and in some cases, death. If you notice any one of the 10 flags, you may want to start making changes in the home so that the resident can live with improved quality of life and increased safety. Or you can start with this check list from the National Institute on Aging: https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/worksheet-home-safety-checklist_1.pdf

RED FLAG 1 - Turning 80 years old

Bones become brittle, muscles and joints become weaker, decreased coordination, decreased balance, increased constipation, weaker bladder, more forgetful, difficulty multitasking, decline in eye and ear health

RED FLAG 2 - A Fall

After your first fall – you are twice as likely to have another fall (2024 data). Falls are the leading cause of injury, hospital admissions, and injury-related deaths among adults ages 65 and older.

RED FLAG 3 - Cognitive Impairment

As we naturally age, problems with memory loss, confusion, difficulties with thinking and problem solving, can become more common. At home, this can affect your ability to judge risky situations, take proper precautions, and recognize hazards.

RED FLAG 4 - Diagnosis of a Progressive Disease

The disease course or the treatment of a progressive disease can cause may syptmons and side effects, respectively. These symptoms and side effects such as weakness, dizziness, pain, shortness of breath, confusion, etc. can cause injury, falls, and hospitalizations.

RED FLAG 5 - Incontinence

This is defined as uncontrolled bowel and bladder function. It can lead to isolation, depression, anxiety, and sedentary lifestyle. Due to the urgent nature of incontinicence, it can also be a risk factor for falls and fractures in the elderly population.

RED FLAG 6 -Clutter

Decluttering and reducing hazards had the most benefit for older people, who are at risk of falls. A home safety assessment, recommendations, and taking measures to reduce fall hazards around the home can lower the overall rate of falls by 25%.

RED FLAG 7 - Polypharmacy

This is defined as taking 5 or more prescription medications, regularly. Older adults over the age of 60 process medications differently compared to younger adults. Side effects can include: reduced alertness, slow reaction time, dizziness, loss of balance, confusion, cognitive impairment, falls, weakness, incontinence, depression, anxiety, or excitability.

RED FLAG 8 - Sedentary Lifestyle

This is defined as 6 or more waking hours spent sitting or lying down, Americans spend 55% of waking hours being sedentary, on average. Health concerns include: obesity, coronary artery disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, diabetes type II, certain cancers, osteoporosis, falls, depression, anxiety.

RED FLAG 9 - Broken Fixtures

This can include toilet paper holders, towel racks, handles on appliances, or cabinet doors. If you see broken fixtures/handles around the home this means that excess force is being applied. It also means that the person applying the excess force needs more physical support.

RED FLAG 10 - "Furniture Walking"

This is not a technical term, but a phrase used in the rehabilitation field to describe people who hold stable or unstable furniture, other objects, and even other people to support themselves when walking. It is a sign of insufficient strength, balance, endurance, or confidence to move independently.