Alzheimer’s Home Safety Tips From the Mayo Clinic

1. Check each area of the home for potential hazards.

• Ensure child-resistant caps are on all medication containers
• Evaluate the bathroom for surfaces that may be slippery when wet (apply adhesive nonskid strips and rubber bath mats in those areas)
• Install grab bars in the bath/shower and near the toilet
• Place a foam rubber faucet cover over the bathtub faucet to prevent serious injuries from falling forward in the tub
• Install a handheld shower and a shower chair

• Avoid using electric blankets or heating pads in the bedroom
• Assist your loved one in going to the bathroom, getting a drink, and getting a nighttime snack before bed
• Consider a bed alarm that will go off if your loved one gets up alone
• Keep a monitoring device (such as a baby monitor) in your loved one’s bedroom to enable you to hear when they need help

• Keep automobiles locked when in the garage or outside
• Keep the doors locked to the garage and shed, if possible
• Lock up potentially hazardous items such as antifreeze, gasoline, machines, sharp tools, etc.
• Remove/secure any bikes, motorcycles or vehicles that are not being used
• Remove any weapons from the home

• Disconnect the garbage disposal
• Install safety knobs on the stove
• Keep alcohol, sharp objects, and plastic bags secured
• Lock up dangerous chemicals or objects by installing childproof latches on all drawers
• Refrain from putting out artificial fruit or other objects shaped like food, such as magnets

• Close and latch the lids to the dryer and washer to prevent access
• Keep the door to the laundry room locked if possible
• Lock up potentially hazardous products such as cleaning products, detergents and other items
• If needed, remove the knobs to prevent tampering with laundry appliances
• Install childproof latches

• Avoid clutter and keep areas where people walk free of tripping hazards
• Be cautious when burning wood in fireplaces or wood-burning stoves
• Keep decorative items to a minimum
• Get rid of any plants that could be poisonous if eaten
• Use window decals to mark glass doors and windows to prevent accidents

• Adapt home entrances for wheelchair accessibility if needed
• Apply slip-proof edging to outside stairs and areas that become slippery when wet
• If there is a pool, cover it and install a gate with a lock
• Keep walkways clear of clutter
• Use brightly colored tape to mark the edges of stairs

2. Employ fall prevention measures.

• Ensure stairways have sturdy handrails that extend beyond the first and last steps
• Cover stairs that aren’t carpeted with nonskid strips to prevent slipping
• Install safety gates in front of stairs for those who have trouble with balance, or who have a high risk of falls
• Keep stairs clear of clutter, and install light switches at the top and bottom of stairs
• Place night lights in your loved one’s bedroom, on the way to the bathroom and inside the bathroom to prevent accidental falls at night

3. Evaluate home safety needs.

• Can my loved one safely go down and up the stairs?
• Do they have a history of falls?
• Do they wander?
• What behaviors might make your loved one vulnerable to accidents or falls?

4. Prepare for emergencies.

• Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors regularly to ensure they are working properly
• Keep a first aid kit handy
• Keep emergency phone numbers handy (including numbers for doctors, poison control, and more)
• Keep ipecac syrup on hand, in case poison control instructs on its use
• Take CPR classes to learn what to do if a loved one accidentally chokes or needs immediate emergency care

5. Take miscellaneous safety measures.

• Cover unused electrical outlets with childproof plugs
• If your loved one has access to a computer, monitor use to prevent them from falling prey to internet fraud
• Keep a spare key outside the house
• Make sure doors and windows are kept locked to prevent wandering