Dementia Home Safety Checklist for Los Angeles

Caring for someone with dementia at home means looking at everyday rooms the way a confused or tired person might experience them. Memory loss, poor judgment, and changes in vision or balance can turn familiar spaces into fall, burn, poisoning, or wandering hazards. This checklist is a practical walk-through you can use room by room. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for guidance from the person's own clinicians.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, and changes in memory, thinking, and daily function can raise the chance of accidents at home. Families can review general information about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Use the lists below as a starting point, then adapt them to the home, the person's remaining abilities, and what has already gone wrong or nearly gone wrong.

How to use this checklist

Walk the house with another trusted person if you can. One of you can look at hazards while the other thinks about how the person actually moves through the day. You do not need to finish every item in one afternoon. Start with the rooms used most and the risks that already worry you, such as the stove, stairs, or an unlocked door.

• Recheck after a fall, hospital stay, new wandering, or a change in mobility or vision.
• Make changes that still let the person do safe, familiar tasks. Over-stripping a room of every object can increase confusion.
• Never lock someone in a room in a way that would block escape in a fire.
• Keep a current photo, a list of medications as prescribed by their clinician, and emergency contacts where caregivers can find them quickly.

Whole-home safety basics

Some hazards show up in every room. Fix these first so later room-by-room work is easier.

• Clear walkways of cords, shoes, pet bowls, magazine stacks, and extra furniture.
• Remove or firmly secure throw rugs. Bare floors or low-pile carpet with non-slip pads are safer than loose rugs.
• Add bright, even lighting and night lights along the path from bed to bathroom. Reduce glare and deep shadows.
• Use lamps and fixtures that are stable and hard to knock over. Tape down or cover extension cords.
• Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Replace batteries on a set schedule.
• Lock up firearms, ammunition, and weapon accessories, or remove them from the home.
• Store spare house keys with a trusted neighbor or relative. Do not hide a key in an obvious outdoor spot.
• Post emergency numbers and the home address near the main phone. Make the house number easy to see from the street.
• Keep a working flashlight in a consistent place. Avoid relying on candles.

Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the highest-risk rooms because of heat, water, sharp tools, and items that can be swallowed. Supervise cooking if judgment or attention has declined, and remove the option to use the stove unsupervised if burns or fires have already occurred.

• Store knives, scissors, ice picks, and other sharp tools in a locked drawer.
• Use stove knob covers, a hidden shut-off, or an automatic shut-off device if the person may turn burners on and walk away.
• Unplug the toaster, blender, coffee maker, and similar appliances when they are not in use.
• Lock up matches, lighters, charcoal starter, and other flammables.
• Move cleaning products, dishwasher detergent pods, bleach, and alcoholic beverages into a locked cabinet.
• Check the refrigerator and pantry often for spoiled food. Label leftovers with dates if that helps the household, and discard anything questionable.
• Remove fake fruit, decorative soaps shaped like food, and magnets that look like candy.
• Consider replacing a tablecloth that can be pulled and spill hot dishes with placemats.
• Keep a fire extinguisher where a caregiver can reach it, not where it might be used unsafely.
• If the garbage disposal, trash compactor, or gas oven is a worry, disable or lock those controls.

Bathroom

Wet floors, hot water, and small objects make bathrooms a common place for falls and scalds. Aim for a space that is easy to enter, easy to leave, and hard to lock from the inside without a way for you to open it.

• Install grab bars at the toilet and in the tub or shower. Have them anchored into wall studs; suction cups are not a substitute.
• Use non-slip mats or strips inside the tub or shower and a non-slip bath mat outside.
• Add a shower chair and a handheld shower head if standing is tiring or unsteady.
• Lower the water heater temperature to reduce scald risk, and always test water before a bath or shower.
• Remove or lock razors, nail scissors, hair dryers, and curling irons. Unplug electrical items and keep them away from water.
• Lock medicines, denture tablets, mouthwash, and cleaning products.
• Take off inside locks, or switch to locks that a caregiver can open from the hallway.
• Use a night light and a contrasting toilet seat if the person has trouble seeing edges.
• Remove bath oils and throw rugs that make the floor slick.
• Watch water in the tub. Do not leave a confused person unattended in standing water.

Bedroom

Nighttime is when many families first notice wandering, falls on the way to the bathroom, or confusion about whose room it is. Keep the path simple and the bed easy to use.

• Leave a clear route from the bed to the bathroom. No cords, slippers in a pile, or extra chairs in the way.
• Use night lights that stay on, not ones the person has to remember to switch.
• Set the bed at a height that makes sitting and standing easier. A very high or very low bed can increase fall risk.
• Keep a sturdy chair for dressing. Avoid chairs with wheels unless they lock firmly.
• Choose clothing that is easy to put on, without complicated fasteners, if dressing has become frustrating.
• Remove extra blankets or heating pads the person cannot operate safely. Follow the clinician's guidance on sleep and bedding if overheating or wandering at night is an issue.
• Consider a monitor or motion sensor so you can hear if the person gets up, especially if you sleep in another room.
• Keep a flashlight, glasses, and a simple clock on the nightstand if those items still help. Remove items that cause rummaging or ingestion risk.

Living room and family areas

These rooms often have the most furniture, cords, and small objects. The goal is a space that still feels like home but does not invite trips, burns, or swallowing hazards.

• Anchor bookcases and tall furniture that could tip. Pad sharp coffee-table corners if falls are already happening.
• Secure area rugs or take them up. Make sure chair and sofa legs are stable.
• Cover unused outlets. Hide or shorten dangling cords from lamps, TVs, and chargers.
• Simplify the TV remote or cover unused buttons if too many controls cause agitation.
• Move small decorations, coins, batteries, and craft items that could be swallowed or put in the ear or nose.
• Place space heaters where they cannot be knocked over, and keep them away from fabric. Avoid leaving them on unsupervised.
• Keep walking paths wide enough for a walker or a second person offering an arm.
• If the fireplace is used, add a sturdy screen and never leave a fire unattended. Store lighters and fireplace tools out of sight.

Hallways, stairs, and lighting

Transitions between rooms cause many falls. Lighting, handholds, and contrast on edges matter as much as removing clutter.

• Put light switches at both ends of hallways and at the top and bottom of stairs. Consider motion-sensor lights.
• Install sturdy handrails on both sides of stairways if you can. Repair loose rails right away.
• Add contrasting tape or paint on stair edges so each step is easier to see.
• Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs if the person is at high risk of falling on them. Pressure-mounted gates are a poor choice at the top of stairs.
• Never store boxes, laundry, or shoes on steps.
• Repair uneven floorboards, torn carpet, and loose thresholds.
• Keep hallways free of extra chairs and plants that narrow the path.

Laundry room, garage, and basement

These spaces hold chemicals, tools, and machines that are easy to misuse. If the person does not need to be in them, a lock on the door is often the simplest fix.

• Lock detergents, bleach, dryer sheets, stain removers, and especially detergent pods.
• Supervise laundry if the person may put inappropriate items in the washer or dryer, or may forget wet clothes until they mildew.
• Lock power tools, lawn chemicals, antifreeze, paint thinner, pesticides, and automotive fluids.
• Keep the car keys in a locked box. If driving is no longer safe, talk with the person's clinician about driving and keep the vehicle inaccessible.
• Disable or lock the garage door opener button if wandering into the garage or driveway is a concern.
• Store gasoline, propane, and grill tools away from living areas and out of reach.
• Watch basement stairs the same way you watch main stairs: lighting, rails, and no stored clutter.

Doors, windows, and outdoor spaces

Exits are a safety issue in two directions: the person may leave and get lost, and household members still need a fast way out in a fire. Do not create a trap. Use alarms, supervision, and less obvious locks rather than blocking every exit.

• Add door alarms, chimes, or pressure mats so you hear when an exterior door opens.
• Place extra locks higher or lower than eye level if the person still uses the usual lock. Keep a key where caregivers can find it in an emergency.
• Do not rely on a lock that would slow escape from fire. Practice how you would get everyone out.
• Secure windows with stops that still allow a caregiver to open them in an emergency. Watch upper-floor windows especially.
• If the person wanders toward a particular door, reducing visual cues on that door (a mural, a curtain, or covering the handle) sometimes helps. This is not a substitute for supervision.
• Fence the yard if it is practical, and lock gates. Check fences for gaps.
• Lock sheds. Put away ladders, hoses, and garden tools after use.
• Treat pools, hot tubs, and ponds as high risk: locked gates, alarms, and constant supervision. Never leave standing water accessible.
• Keep walkways shoveled, salted, or cleared of leaves. Repair broken steps and uneven patio stones.
• Make sure outdoor lighting covers the path to the car, trash, and mailbox.

Medications and household chemicals

Confusion about pills and household products is a common reason for emergency visits. Keep dangerous items out of sight and out of easy reach, and follow the prescribing clinician's instructions rather than changing doses on your own.

• Store all prescription and over-the-counter medicines in a locked box, including vitamins, patches, and leftover bottles.
• Do not leave a day's pills sitting on the kitchen counter if extra doses might be taken.
• Lock up supplements, eye drops, inhalers, and medicated creams the same way you lock pills.
• Keep cleaning products, mothballs, pesticides, automotive fluids, and beauty products in a locked cabinet, not under an unlocked sink.
• Ask the pharmacist or clinician how to dispose of unused medicines. Do not throw them in an open trash can the person can reach.
• If several caregivers help, use one written list of what was given and when, so doses are not repeated. That list should match the clinician's orders.

Reducing wandering risk

Wandering can happen even in a familiar house, especially at dusk, after a nap, or when the person is looking for a former home or job. Prevention is a mix of supervision, a calmer routine, and a plan if they do leave.

• Keep a recent close-up photo and a written description of clothing for that day.
• Consider an identification bracelet or clothing labels with a caregiver phone number. Avoid putting the home address on something a stranger could misuse if that is a concern in your area.
• Tell trusted neighbors and, if appropriate, nearby shopkeepers that the person may become disoriented and should be walked home or that you should be called.
• Lock the car and keep keys out of sight. A person who no longer drives may still try.
• Use door alarms rather than relying on memory of "please don't go outside."
• A predictable daily routine, regular meals, and chances to walk with a companion may reduce restlessness that leads to exiting. This is practical caregiving, not a treatment plan.
• If you use a location device, test it, keep it charged, and make sure the person will actually wear it.
• If wandering has already happened, walk the likely routes in advance and note nearby water, busy roads, and bus stops.

Fire, water, and emergency planning

Plan for the emergency you hope will not happen. Practice the parts that involve the person, using simple language and a calm tone.

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly. Replace units that are past their dated life.
• Know two ways out of every room you use. Keep those paths clear.
• If smoking still occurs, never leave smoking materials with the person unsupervised. Use deep, sturdy ashtrays and check furniture and pockets for smoldering items.
• Unplug unused heating pads and electric blankets. Keep space heaters away from bedding and curtains.
• Know how to shut off the stove, furnace, and main water if a tap is left running or a burner is left on.
• Keep a simple emergency sheet: the person's name, date of birth, main medical conditions as diagnosed by their clinician, allergies, medications, and your phone number. Place a copy on the refrigerator for first responders.
• If the person may not follow verbal fire instructions, assign a caregiver to that person in a drill rather than expecting independent evacuation.

Reassessing the home as needs change

A setup that worked last year may not work after a hospitalization, a new mobility problem, or a change in sleep. Walk the same rooms again whenever daily life shifts.

• After a fall, look at the exact path, footwear, lighting, and whether a rug or pet was involved.
• When cooking, bathing, or using tools is no longer safe even with reminders, remove access rather than repeating warnings.
• If the person starts hiding items, add locks to the rooms with the highest-risk contents and offer a safe drawer for rummaging.
• If paid caregivers or relatives share the house, show them where keys, shut-offs, alarms, and the emergency sheet are.
• Tour the home at night, not only in daylight. Many hazards only appear after dark.

Small, consistent changes usually help more than a one-time overhaul. Revisit this checklist as the person's needs change, and bring specific home hazards to the attention of their own health care team when you need advice tailored to their condition.