Holiday Home Safety: How to Make Your Home Safer for Seniors 

Simple home safety and accessibility tips to help prevent falls, remove mobility barriers, and make holiday gatherings more comfortable for aging parents and loved ones.

At a Glance 

• Remove throw rugs, clutter, and electrical cords from walkways. 
• Improve lighting in hallways, bathrooms, and staircases. 
• Make sure entryways and transitions are accessible. 
• Check bathrooms for slippery surfaces and accessibility barriers. 
• Consider ramps, stair lifts, and bathroom modifications when simple adjustments aren’t enough. 

Is Your Home Ready for the Holidays?  

The holiday season means family gatherings, parties and more time at home. Whether you’re expecting guests or hosting a holiday get-together, preparing your home for the season is likely at the top of your list.  

If your holiday plans include an aging parent, grandparent or loved one, prepping your house may involve more than decorations or cleaning. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 14 million — about 1 in 4 — older adults report falling every year. What steps can you take now to ensure your home is safe and accessible before the holiday season?  

The good news: with a few simple changes, you can make your home safer and more accessible before the first guest arrives, so everyone can focus on the celebration. 

Why Is the Holiday Season Riskier for Senior Adults?  

The holiday season can be riskier to older of adults for many reasons, including:  

• The weather: Ice, snow and rain create travel nightmares, but can make steps, entrances and outdoor ramps or entries slippery, which can lead to falls or injuries.  

• Crowded rooms: Extra chairs, tables and more people than usual can all encroach on walkways, making it harder for older adults or people with mobility challenges to navigate around your home.  

• Decorations: Wreaths, decorations and extension cords all help set the tone for the holiday season but can also create tripping hazards or make maneuvering difficult for wheelchair users.  

• Unfamiliar surroundings: Your guests don’t know your home as well as you do, so uneven transitions from room to room, that step down into the den or not knowing where the light switch is can all lead to falls.  

What Are Signs Your Home May Not Be Safe for Seniors?  

The holidays often involve gatherings and parties, meaning you get to visit with friends and loved ones you don’t see on a daily basis. This extended time together can help make you aware of mobility changes or challenges your loved ones may be dealing with.  

Since aging family members and loved ones may not be able to recognize or be willing to talk about their mobility challenges, so be sure to watch for signs, including:  

• Hesitation at the stairs, transitions or entryways; 
• Grabbing at walls, railings or furniture for balance or assistance; 
• Avoiding the bathroom or taking longer in the restroom;  
• Difficulty getting up from chairs or other furniture.  

What Are Some Quick Tips to Make Your Home Safer and More Accessible?  

Making your home accessible and holiday-ready doesn’t require remodeling. A few simple changes can quickly make a big difference:  

• Pick up throw rugs: Rugs and worn carpet can easily become a tripping hazard and can be difficult for guests using mobility equipment such as wheelchairs or walkers to navigate. Make your home safer by removing them to create a clear walkway. Non-slip backing is a great alternative, but removing rugs may be simpler, easier and safer.  

• Tame the cords: Extension cords make the holiday season run, but they’re also tripping hazard. Keep cords out of frequently used areas and don’t run extension cords across common doorways or hallways. Consider using battery-operated string lights wherever possible to cut down on cord clutter.  

• Clear common walkways: Make sure there is ample space to move around in the key common areas of your home. Clutter, decorations and even furniture can encroach on walking paths and make it hard for people to move — especially for those using a wheelchair, walker or scooter to navigate.  

• Brighten rooms: Dim lighting can create an atmosphere, but can also hide steps, cords or pets. Swap in higher lumen bulbs where you can and add nightlights to hallways, staircases and bathrooms used by overnight guests.  

Areas of the Home That Create Mobility Challenges 

The three areas of the home that create the most mobility challenges are entryways and stairs, bathrooms, and tight or cluttered living spaces — and each can be adapted with a few targeted upgrades. 

Entryways and Stairs 

Entryways and stairs are among the top trouble spots for people with mobility issues, since they often involve steps, staircases or thresholds. It doesn’t matter if it’s a single step or a staircase to a second floor, one wrong step can be an issue. When considering solutions for stairs or uneven floors, think about all the places in which your guests may encounter them. 

Ramps 

Ramps make it possible to enter and exit a home safely — but they aren’t just for wheelchair users. A gently sloping ramp is often easier to navigate than steps for anyone who has trouble lifting their legs high, because ramps allow smaller steps and minimize the time spent balancing on one leg. 

Ramps can help with: 

• Entry and exit from the home — the most common use, especially for wheelchair and scooter users 
• Interior transitions — small step-downs between rooms, sunken living rooms, or garage-to-house thresholds 
• Low-strength stepping — a gentle slope requires less leg lift and less single-leg balance than even one standard stair. 

Learn more about wheelchair ramps.  

 Stair Lifts  

A stair lift can provide a convenient way to access different levels of a home for individuals who have difficulty navigating stairs but can safely transfer to and from a seated position. 

Stairlifts are incredibly versatile, making it easy to find a solution that fits your needs:  

• Straight staircases — the most common configuration, often installed quickly 
• Curved staircases — custom rails that follow every turn and landing 
• Outdoor stairs — models for porches, decks, and walkways 

Learn more about stairlifts. 

Bathrooms 

The bathroom can be one of the most challenging areas of the home for people with mobility limitations. Wet surfaces, tight spaces, and the need to step over tub walls or transition between standing and sitting can create additional fall risks. 

Barrier-Free Showers and Walk-In Tubs 

A barrier-free shower eliminates the highest-risk moment in the bathroom: stepping up and over a tub wall. Like stairs, that split-second of balancing on one foot is often when disaster strikes. Barrier-free showers and walk-in tubs let seniors step directly in — no lift, no balance — while a low-profile design keeps water flowing conveniently down the drain. 

Benefits of barrier-free showers and walk-in tubs include: 

• No step-up-and-balance moment — walk directly in at ground level 
• Faster, safer entry and exit — with room for a seat or caregiver if needed 
• Sleek design — modern systems look like a spa upgrade, not a medical device 

Learn more about barrier-free showers. 

Inclined Toilet Lifts 

An inclined toilet lift helps seniors who have difficulty lowering onto the toilet or standing back up afterward. The motorized base extends up to meet them as they sit and gently lowers them to a comfortable position. When they’re done, it lifts them back to a full standing position. 

The result is more than physical support — it’s dignity and independence, letting people use the restroom by themselves. 

Learn more about inclined toilet lifts. 

Living Spaces, Kitchens, and Bedrooms: Small Changes, Big Difference 

Other rooms within your home such as the living room, kitchen or bedrooms can also be difficult for seniors or people with mobility issues.  

A few simple tips can help remove tripping hazards and manage trouble spots:  

• In living spaces, consider rearranging furniture to create wide walkways and remove or relocate any items that could cause someone to trip such as throw rugs, cords, toys or other items that often end up in the floor. Add chairs with arms, which can make sitting and rising from furniture easier for senior adults.  

• In the kitchen, try to keep frequently used items at waist height, so guests don’t have to bend or stoop to reach them. Clear pathways between counters and make sure rugs or mats aren’t causing any obstructions.  

• In guest bedrooms, check the bed height, making sure it’s not too high or too low, both of which can be dangerous for people with mobility issues. Ensure the pathway from the bedroom to the bathroom is clear and well-lit, and consider using ground-floor guest rooms for guests who have trouble navigating stairs.  

NSM Is Here to Help. 

Looking for more ideas on how to make your home more accessible? We can help. Our home access team can partner with you to design solutions that fit your needs and your budget.  

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