Free 5-page checklist from an OT
Make the home safer for someone with dementia
The Dementia Home Safety Checklist. A room-by-room walk-through, plus the 6 tools worth buying first.
Most falls and scares happen in the same few places: the path to the bathroom at night, the shower, the front door and the kitchen. This checklist walks you through each one, the way I do on a home visit, so your loved one can stay safe and keep doing as much as possible.
The OT starter kit
If you buy only six things, buy these
In this order. Each one prevents a common accident or a hard moment.
Plug-in motion night lights
Look for: Turn on by themselves, soft warm light, a multi-pack to light the whole path from the bed to the toilet.
✓ Prevents night-time falls
See options on AmazonDay-and-date clock
Look for: A large screen that spells out the day, the date and “morning, afternoon, night.”
✓ Fewer “what day is it?” questions and calmer mornings
See options on AmazonDoor chime or door alarm
Look for: Loud enough to hear from your bedroom, easy for you to turn off, battery or plug-in.
✓ Warns you before they leave the house
See options on AmazonMedicine lock box
Look for: A key or combination lock, big enough for a week of pill organizers.
✓ Prevents double doses and mix-ups
See options on AmazonBed or chair exit alarm
Look for: A pressure pad or motion sensor with a pager or chime you keep in your room.
✓ Lets you help before they fall
See options on AmazonShower chair and grab bars
Look for: A chair with a back and arms; grab bars screwed into the wall studs, never suction cups.
✓ Safer, calmer showers
See options on AmazonThese are product types, not brand endorsements. Pick what fits your home and your loved one.
Room by room
The 6 areas the checklist covers
Door chimes, locks out of sight, a medical ID bracelet and a recent photo on your phone.
Motion night lights, a clear path to the toilet and a bed exit alarm if they get up and fall.
Grab bars, a shower chair, non-slip mats and the water heater at 120°F or lower.
A stove shut-off or knob covers, cleaners locked away and no fake fruit or look-alike foods.
No loose rugs, bright even light, marked step edges and railings on both sides.
Every medicine in a lock box; firearms removed or locked and unloaded; tools and car keys out of reach.
What's inside
5 pages to print and check off
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Why I made this
Dr. Fernando Vera, OT
I'm a licensed occupational therapist and I run Empower Health, a dementia rehab clinic in The Woodlands, Texas. On home visits I see the same risks again and again: a dark hallway at night, a slippery tub, a door that opens without anyone noticing. Most take minutes to fix. This is the checklist I use, so you can do it yourself.
Education, not medical advice. Ask your loved one's doctor or an occupational therapist about their specific needs.