Free guide

Falls prevention and home safety, room by room

Most falls at home happen doing ordinary things — getting off the toilet, stepping into the shower, walking to the kitchen overnight. This guide sets out what to look for in each room, the practical changes that make the biggest difference, and when it is worth having an occupational therapist come out.

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Warning signs worth acting on

A near miss, slip or trip in the past six months
Holding furniture or walls to move around the house
Difficulty standing from a low chair, bed or toilet
Rushing to the toilet, especially overnight
Feeling light-headed when standing up quickly
Avoiding parts of the home, such as the shower or back steps

The room-by-room checklist

Walk through your home with this list and note anything that already feels risky. If you are helping a family member, do it together — they know which movements feel unsteady.

Bathroom

Common hazards

Stepping over a hob or bath edge
Wet, slippery tiles
Nothing safe to hold when standing

What usually helps

Non-slip mat inside and outside the shower
Grab rail beside the shower and toilet
Shower stool and hand-held shower rose
Raised toilet seat or over-toilet frame

Bedroom

Common hazards

Getting up in the dark
Bed too low or too soft
Dressing while standing

What usually helps

Motion-sensor night light to the toilet
Bed at knee height, firm edge to push from
Chair beside the bed for dressing
Phone and glasses within reach

Kitchen and living areas

Common hazards

Reaching overhead or bending low
Rugs, cords and pet bowls
Standing for long periods

What usually helps

Everyday items between hip and shoulder height
Remove or tape down loose rugs and cords
Perch stool at the bench
Trolley to carry meals and drinks safely

Steps, entry and outdoors

Common hazards

Uneven paths and single steps
No handrail on external stairs
Poor lighting at the front door

What usually helps

Handrail on both sides where possible
Contrast strip on step edges
Sensor light at entries
Threshold ramp or level path repair

What to do next

1
See your GP
Ask for a falls and medication review, plus blood pressure, vision and feet checks. Many falls have a medical contributor.
2
Book an OT home assessment
We look at how you actually move through your home and recommend equipment, modifications and technique changes that fit your routine.
3
Build strength and balance
Physiotherapy or an evidence-based balance program reduces falls risk. We work alongside your physio where one is involved.
4
Plan for the next fall
A personal alarm, a charged phone within reach and a plan for who to call keeps a fall from becoming a long wait on the floor.

How an occupational therapist helps

An OT home assessment looks at the person and the home together. We watch how you get in and out of the shower, rise from your chair, manage steps and move about overnight, then recommend the smallest change that makes the task safe — often equipment, a rail or a different technique rather than building work.

Where structural change is needed, we assess for minor or complex home modifications, write the report and work with your builder through to sign-off. Assessments are available under NDIS plans, My Aged Care and privately, face-to-face across the Gold Coast, Logan, Brisbane, Scenic Rim and Northern Rivers, and by Telehealth Australia-wide.

Home modification assessments Equipment and assistive technology See pricing