Making home safe

2 minute read

You can change their home to help the person you care for to move around safely. This can be changes to their home if they are still living there, or to your home if they are living with you.

Changes to the home can increase their independence and reduce the risk of injury. This also helps you by increasing the range of things the person can do for themselves, and by reducing your risk of injury.

Simple changes to the home

Simple changes to the person’s home can include:

  • removing clutter around the house to prevent tripping as they move around
  • installing night lights
  • putting nonslip strips on the edge of stairs
  • keeping all medicines in a locked cabinet
  • installing smoke detectors

Larger changes to the home

Larger changes to the person’s home can include:

  • installing ramps in areas with stairs – you will need ramps if the person you care for uses a wheelchair. They can also be useful for people who can’t manage stairs very well
  • installing rails wherever needed – rails give the person something to hold when they need to, such as climbing stairs, getting in and out of the shower or bath, or getting on and off the toilet
  • widening doorways – you might need to widen doorways if the person you care for uses a wheelchair
  • changing bathrooms and kitchens (for example, lowering bench heights so they can be reached by someone in a wheelchair)
  • moving light switches and power points to be more convenient for you or the person you care for

Getting help with changing the home

You can ask your doctor or occupational therapist about what changes to the home might help you. Changes should be done by a licensed builder or tradesperson. You can also visit the Home Modifications Information Clearinghouse website for more information.

You may be able to get additional support to change the home.

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1:35

Most of your time spent caring is likely to be in the home, so it’s crucial to make it a safe place for all.

Creating a safe environment for you and the person that you care for can be challenging, but taking the time to identify potential risks can reduce the likelihood of a serious accident or injury.

Simple home modifications can be made by you or a service provider to help eliminate hazards, improve accessibility and reduce accidents.

Your requirements may be different and dependent on your specific circumstances, so it’s important to find out what works best for you and the person you care for.

Simple changes you might think about include:

  • removing clutter around the house to prevent tripping as you move around the home, both inside and outside
  • installing night lights for when you have to move about in the dark • keeping all medications in a locked cabinet to prevent easy access
  • installing smoke detectors.

For larger home modifications you may need to contact a service provider. You can use the ‘Find a service tool’ on the Carer Gateway website, which is a database that directs you to your nearest healthcare and general service provider who will be able to help with the modifications.

These may include:

  • installing grab rails near a toilet or hand supports, in the shower or near a handbasin
  • constructing handrails on stairs, or
  • defining the edges of the stairs by using non slip strips.

These are just a few tips that may help you understand how to make your home a safer place. So have a look around the home for ways you can improve safety and reduce potential hazards.

For more information and additional advice, please go to carergateway.gov.au or call 1800 422 737.

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