Living Room & Hallway

• Check the floors. Remove any loose rugs that could lead to trips and falls. It is also important to seal carpet edges and seams that have become frayed.
• Light the way. Install night lights in the hallways to prevent falls and help the person get to the bathroom at night. Handrails may also be needed along the hallway.

• Be careful with candles and fireplaces. Do not leave the person with dementia alone with a burning candle or an open fire in the fireplace.
• Consider getting a lifting recliner. Some people with dementia have trouble standing up due to balance issues or limited mobility. It may be helpful to purchase the chair in the early stages of dementia so that it becomes a familiar object to the person.
• Protect stairways. Make sure that there is a sturdy handrail that goes all the way from the top to the bottom. You might need to add non-skid strips if the steps are highly polished. Light switches should be installed at the top and bottom of stairs.

Bathroom

• Install wall-mounted grab bars near the toilet, near the bathtub and in the shower. They can help people with dementia keep their balance on wet, slippery floors.
• Get a shower chair with a handheld shower head so the person can remain seated while bathing to help prevent falls. A bathtub/shower mat is also helpful.
• Consider getting a raised toilet seat with arms. It is much easier for people to use the toilet when the seat is elevated by 2” and they can use their arms to steady themselves.
• Lock up all medicines, vitamins and supplements. People with dementia often rummage through drawers and cabinets. They may take someone else’s medicine or take too much of their own.
• Remove door locks from the bathroom doors to prevent the person from accidentally becoming locked in the bathroom and unable to get out.

Kitchen

• Prevent access to potentially dangerous appliances by installing safety knobs on the stove to prevent the person with dementia from turning the stove on or off. The garbage disposal may need to be disconnected as well.
• Lock up all toxic cleaning products, matches and alcohol. Important papers, checkbooks, credit carts, and keys should also be kept secure as they could be misplaced or hidden by a person with dementia.

• Get appliances with automatic shut-off mechanisms. People with dementia often forget that they turned on the toaster, kettle or other appliance and a fire could result.
• Use good smoke detectors. People with Alzheimer’s often forget about food that is being cooked. Some newer smoke detectors can send alerts to your phone when you are not at home.

Bedroom

• Consider getting a Hi-Low bed. These beds can be lowered until the frame is just a few inches above the floor. They help protect people who try to get out of bed without asking for help. Fall mats can also be placed next to the bed to provide a soft surface in case the person rolls off the mattress.
• Be careful with heating devices. Don’t use portable space heaters in the person’s bedroom. Remove electric blankets and hot water bottles that can be a safety hazard for a person with dementia.

Other Areas

• Lower the water temperature. Set the thermostat on your hot water heater to below 120 F (49 C) to prevent accidental burns.
• Prevent access to the washer and dryer. The doors and lids should be kept closed and latched, and the knobs may be removed if necessary. People with dementia may try to wash disposable incontinence pads or add buckets of soap.

• • Check the locks. Consider getting a keyless entry lock for the front door in case the person with dementia locks you out. This will also make it easier for paramedics to enter the home in case of emergency.
  • Prepare for emergencies. Have the person’s medical history and current medication list ready along with contact information for all of the person’s doctors.
• Keep the poison control number (1-800-222-1222) by the phone.
• Keep computer equipment out of the way. If you store valuable documents on your computer, protect the files with passwords and create backups.