Dementia Home Safety Checklist for New York

To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention overview of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

How to Use This Checklist

Walk the home at the same times of day the person you care for is usually up and moving, including after dark. Recheck the house after any fall, hospital stay, new wandering episode, or change in mobility. What was safe last month may not be safe now.

• Complete one room at a time rather than trying to change everything in a single day.
• Focus first on fire, poisoning, falls, scalds, and unsupervised exits.
• Keep changes simple and familiar. Sudden rearranging of furniture can increase confusion.
• Involve the person in choices when possible, such as selecting a brighter lamp or a contrasting bedspread.
• Write down who will complete each fix and by when, so tasks do not stall.

Whole-Home Safety Basics

These steps apply in every room and often prevent the most common injuries.

• Clear walking paths at least wide enough for a walker or two people side by side.
• Remove throw rugs, or tape all edges securely and use nonslip backing.
• Add bright, even lighting and reduce glare from bare bulbs or uncovered windows.
• Place night-lights along the route from bed to bathroom and near stairs.
• Use motion-sensor lights in hallways, closets, and entryways.
• Secure or cover electrical cords so they are not trip lines.
• Anchor tall bookcases, TVs, and dressers to the wall.
• Increase visual contrast: dark switch plates on light walls, a colored toilet seat, and contrasting tape on step edges.
• Keep floors dry and wipe spills immediately.
• Store plastic bags, matches, lighters, alcohol, and firearms in locked locations, or remove firearms from the home.
• Post emergency contacts in large print near the main phone, and make sure a charged phone is always reachable.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly and replace batteries on a set schedule.

Kitchen

The kitchen combines heat, water, sharp tools, and food safety risks. Many families find it is the first room that needs extra controls.

• Lock away knives, scissors, blender blades, and other sharp tools.
• Store matches, lighters, and flammable liquids out of sight in a locked cabinet.
• Keep household cleaners, dishwasher packets, and insect sprays in a locked cupboard, not under the sink.
• Consider knob covers, a stove shut-off device, or removing knobs when cooking will not be supervised.
• Unplug the toaster, coffee maker, electric kettle, and similar appliances after each use.
• Prefer appliances with automatic shut-off features.
• Disable or lock the garbage disposal switch if it could be turned on by mistake.
• Set the water heater to a scald-prevention temperature and test tap water with your wrist before the person uses the sink.
• Replace glass dishes and stemware with sturdy, unbreakable pieces if dropping or breakage is a concern.
• Remove decorative fake fruit or food magnets that could be mistaken for something to eat.
• Check the refrigerator regularly for spoiled food if the person still serves themselves.
• Keep a working fire extinguisher in an easy but supervised location, and make sure at least one household member knows how to use it.
• If the person no longer cooks safely, leave out only snacks that do not need heating, and supervise any use of the stove or microwave.

Bathroom

Wet floors, hard surfaces, and hot water make bathrooms a high-priority room for fall and burn prevention.

• Install grab bars at the toilet and in the tub or shower; towel bars are not a substitute.
• Use a nonslip bath mat inside the tub or shower and a nonslip rug outside it.
• Add a shower chair or transfer bench and a handheld shower head if standing is difficult.
• Remove or disable the interior lock, or switch to a lock that opens quickly from the outside.
• Lower water temperature at the tap and never leave the person unattended in a filling tub if scald or drowning risk is present.
• Store medications, razors, nail scissors, and cleaning products in a locked cabinet.
• Keep hair dryers, curling irons, and other electrical items unplugged and out of the bathroom.
• Use a contrasting toilet seat and well-marked faucet handles (hot versus cold).
• Add a night-light that stays on dusk to dawn.
• Hang towels and a robe within easy reach so the person is not stepping out wet to search for them.
• Keep the floor clear of hampers, scales, and extra rugs.

Bedroom

A calmer, well-lit bedroom can reduce nighttime falls and confusion.

• Keep the path from bed to bathroom short, straight, and free of furniture.
• Place a lamp or switch within reach of the bed; consider a touch lamp or clapper-style light if switches are hard to find.
• Choose a stable bed height that makes sitting and standing easier. Avoid high beds and very low mattresses on the floor unless a professional has recommended that setup.
• Use a firm mattress and remove extra decorative pillows or heavy comforters that can cause overheating or make it harder to get up.
• Skip electric blankets or heating pads if there is any chance they will be left on or used unsafely.
• Keep a sturdy chair with arms nearby for dressing.
• Limit clutter on nightstands; leave only needed items such as glasses, a clock, and a call bell or phone.
• Secure windows so they cannot be opened far enough to climb out, while still allowing emergency exit by a caregiver.
• If the person gets up often at night, a bedside commode can reduce rushed trips in the dark.
• Avoid full-length mirrors if reflections cause fear or the sense that a stranger is in the room.

Living Room and Other Common Areas

Shared spaces should support rest and conversation without creating trip or tip-over hazards.

• Arrange seating so the person can see the doorway and a familiar view, which can reduce agitation.
• Choose chairs with arms and a firm seat at a height that makes standing easier.
• Remove glass-top tables, wobbly side tables, and low coffee tables that sit in the walking path.
• Keep remote controls, hearing aids, and glasses in one consistent, visible place.
• Reduce visual clutter: too many patterns, piles of mail, or busy rugs can be hard to interpret.
• Cover or remove mirrors if they cause distress.
• Lock liquor cabinets and remove small decorative objects that could be swallowed or thrown.
• Make sure space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves cannot be used unsupervised; use screens and consider shutting off fuel sources when not needed.
• Keep walking paths open between the favorite chair, bathroom, kitchen, and exit.

Stairs, Hallways, and Entryways

Transitions between levels and doors are common places for falls and unsupervised leaving.

• Install sturdy handrails on both sides of every staircase.
• Mark the edge of each step with contrasting tape or paint.
• Keep stairs free of objects, runners that slip, and dim lighting.
• Use a safety gate at the top and bottom of stairs if climbing unsupervised is unsafe. Choose a hardware-mounted gate and check it often.
• Add brighter bulbs in hallways and a two-way switch so lights can be turned on from either end.
• Place a bench or sturdy chair near the door for putting on shoes.
• Keep entry floors dry and use a low-profile, nonslip mat rather than a thick rug.
• Make house numbers large and well lit so emergency responders can find the home quickly.
• Store spare keys in a lockbox or with a trusted neighbor rather than under a mat.

Laundry Room, Garage, Basement, and Yard

Utility and outdoor spaces often hold tools, chemicals, and exit routes that need extra control.

• Lock the door to the garage, basement, workshop, and any chemical storage area.
• Store paints, pesticides, fertilizers, antifreeze, and gasoline in locked cabinets.
• Unplug power tools and lock them away. Remove or disable riding mowers and vehicles if driving or operating equipment is no longer safe.
• Keep car keys in a locked drawer, not on a hook by the door.
• Lock the fuse box or electrical panel if tampering is a concern.
• Check outdoor walkways for uneven stones, moss, hoses, and poor lighting.
• Repair or fence off decks, steep drops, and ponds. If there is a pool, use a locked barrier and never leave the person unsupervised near water.
• Secure gates with latches the person cannot open easily, while making sure caregivers can exit in an emergency.
• Bring the person inside before dusk if nighttime wandering or poor depth perception is an issue.
• Label the person’s clothing and consider a wearable identification bracelet if they spend time outdoors.

Medications, Cleaning Products, and Other Hazardous Items

Everyday products can be mistaken for food or taken more than once when memory is impaired.

• Keep all prescription and over-the-counter medicines in a locked box. Do not leave weekly pill organizers in the open if extra doses could be taken.
• Have one person manage refills and dosing schedules.
• Store vitamins, patches, inhalers, and medicated creams with other medicines, not on a bathroom counter.
• Lock up cleaning concentrates, detergent pods, essential oils, nail polish remover, and automotive fluids.
• Do not transfer chemicals into food or drink containers.
• Secure nicotine products, cannabis products, and alcohol.
• Review the home for weapons, including firearms and ammunition, and store them locked, unloaded, and separate from each other, or remove them from the home.

Reducing Wandering and Unsupervised Exits

Not everyone with dementia wanders, but many people walk away while looking for a former home, a job, or a family member. Prevention works better than searching after the fact.

• Install door and window chimes or alarms that alert you when an exterior door opens.
• Use deadbolts placed above or below the person’s usual line of sight, or covers over sliding-door latches, while keeping a safe emergency exit for caregivers.
• Camouflage exits that lead outside with a cloth panel, mural, or curtain if the person tries the same door repeatedly.
• Place a stop-sign or “do not enter” notice on doors to basements, garages, or the street if that cue still works for the person.
• Keep recent photos and a written description of clothing, height, and identifying features ready for neighbors and first responders.
• Tell trusted neighbors that the person may become disoriented and should be walked home, not left alone.
• Avoid leaving the person alone in a running car or in a yard that opens to a street or body of water.
• If wandering has already occurred, reassess locks, supervision, and whether the person can still be left alone even briefly.

Fire, Utilities, and Emergency Planning

Confusion can delay a person’s response to alarms, so the household plan has to assume they may not leave independently.

• Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and add units on every level, especially near bedrooms.
• Do not use candles, and avoid portable heaters in rooms the person uses unsupervised.
• If the person smokes, do not leave smoking materials available; supervise any remaining use outdoors and away from bedding.
• Know how to shut off the stove, oven, and main gas or electricity supply.
• Practice a simple exit route with caregivers. Do not expect the person with dementia to remember a multi-step drill.
• Keep flashlights in consistent locations in case of a power outage.
• Save a list of medicines, allergies, and key contacts in a labeled envelope for emergency personnel.
• If the person uses oxygen, post a no-smoking reminder and keep tubing out of walkways.

Adapting the Home as Needs Change

Dementia is not static. A home that works in the early stages may need more structure later, especially around cooking, bathing, and being home alone.

• Re-walk the house after any change in walking, vision, sleep, or behavior.
• Simplify rather than add gadgets. Too many new devices can increase frustration.
• Ask a qualified professional, such as an occupational therapist or a home-safety specialist familiar with dementia, to walk through the home if falls or wandering continue.
• Share the checklist with other family members and paid helpers so everyone follows the same rules about stoves, doors, and medicines.
• Plan for backup supervision during storms, caregiver illness, or nighttime restlessness.

Where Families Can Learn More

Home changes work best alongside reliable information about the condition itself and local support options. The CDC page linked above explains Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in plain language. Families who want to connect with research and clinical expertise can use the National Institute on Aging directory to find an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. A related listing of national Alzheimer’s research centers is also available from Alzheimers.gov.

None of those organizations prepared or endorsed this checklist. Use them as independent places to learn more, ask questions, and find local education or support programs.