Top 10 Fall Prevention Tips for Seniors Living at Home

One small change, like removing a throw rug or adding a grab bar, can mean the difference between a quiet evening at home and a trip to the ER.

If you’ve noticed a loved one reaching for furniture to steady themselves, hesitating on the stairs, or shuffling through dim hallways, now is the time to act.

Falls at home are a leading concern for older adults in North Carolina and across the country. Each year, the Centers for Disease Control reports that about 3 million emergency department visits occur due to older people’s falls.

The encouraging news: Many of these falls never have to happen. With practical adjustments to the home and a few steady habits, families can cut the risk in a big way and help aging loved ones stay where they’re happiest: at home.

Proactive steps help seniors stay independent, confident, and active in familiar surroundings. When families stay alert to changes in walking, balance, or vision, loved ones enjoy more good days and fewer worries about sudden setbacks or serious injuries.

Here are ten hands-on fall prevention tips every North Carolina family should consider when supporting aging parents or relatives.

1. Remove Tripping Hazards Around the Home

Loose rugs, curled edges of mats, cords, and general clutter cause countless falls. Start with walkways, including hallways, kitchen paths, bedroom routes, and the space between the bed and bathroom. Secure or remove area rugs, tape down edges, and move cords behind furniture.

Rearrange furniture to open wider walking lanes so walkers and mobility aids move freely. Pick up small items (shoes, pet toys, baskets, magazines) that tend to collect on floors and stairs.

Spot-level changes matter: If one room drops to another (for example, tile to hardwood or sunken living room transitions), mark the edge with contrasting tape or a low-profile transition strip. Level uneven thresholds where possible for a simpler, safer floor plan.

2. Improve Lighting in Key Areas

Dim lighting hides hazards. Swap in brighter, long‑life bulbs, especially in entryways, hallways, stairwells, the kitchen, and bathrooms. Use night lights that switch on automatically after dark so seniors never walk through a dark hallway to the bathroom.

For those with limited mobility, place night lights with motion sensors in hallways to cut down on nighttime stumbles. Consistent, glare‑free lighting helps seniors see thresholds, spills, and other leading causes of falls before a foot catches them.

3. Install Grab Bars and Non-Slip Mats in Bathrooms

Bathrooms combine water, hard surfaces, and tight spaces—prime conditions for a fall, especially for seniors who live independently. Install sturdy, weight‑rated grab bars near the toilet and inside the shower or tub. (Note: Towel bars are not a safe part of any fall prevention plan.)

Place non‑slip mats or adhesive strips both inside the tub/shower and on the floor just outside the wet area. A shower chair or transfer bench adds stability for those who tire easily or have limited balance.

Most of these items are available through local hardware stores, medical supply shops, or through your home care provider. A few simple bathroom upgrades can prevent some of the most serious fall injuries.

4. Avoid Step Stools and Ladders

Reaching overhead is a major fall trigger. Move everyday items (such as dishes, medications, towels, and grooming items) to waist or shoulder height. Use lower shelves, rolling carts, or countertop baskets for daily essentials.

If something is stored high, ask for help rather than reaching, climbing, or balancing on a chair. Make it a house rule: no step stools or ladders for anyone at fall risk.

5. Encourage Supportive Footwear

Good shoes = better footing, and the reverse is just as true. Recent studies have indicated that a large percentage of older adults (72%) wear ill-fitting shoes.

Even more concerningly, the percentage of those who experienced a fall in the previous 6 months was higher among those wearing ill-fitting footwear than those wearing correctly fitting shoes on at least one foot.

Encourage closed‑toe, low‑heel shoes with non‑slip rubber soles and secure fastening (laces, Velcro®, or strap). Avoid backless slippers, loose sandals, or walking in socks on hard floors.

Gentle reminders help this habit stick. Keep a “go‑to” pair by the bed and another at the main door. Supportive footwear is a daily layer of fall protection with every step.

6. Promote Daily Exercise for Strength and Balance

Gentle movement improves both strength and stability. Encourage regular physical activity such as short walks, tai chi, or simple chair yoga. These exercises boost muscle tone and balance, which lowers the chances of falling.

If possible, involve a caregiver or explore programs offered at local community centers or senior groups in your area. Physical therapists can recommend personalized exercises adjusted for specific abilities or medical conditions.

Over time, stronger bodies lead to fewer risk factors for falls and better overall health.

7. Review Medications with a Healthcare Provider

Some prescriptions and combinations of drugs can cause dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, or drops in blood pressure when standing. That’s a recipe for falls.

Set a recurring medication review (at least once a year, sooner if new meds are added). Ask: Are any of these making me light‑headed? Sleepy? Unsteady? Doctors and pharmacists can adjust timing, dosage, or alternatives when side effects raise fall risk.

Keep a written medication list at home and share it with caregivers so everyone is working from the same page.

8. Stay on Top of Vision and Hearing Checks

Balance depends on more than strong legs. If your loved one can’t clearly see a step or hear someone alerting them to a hazard, the risk of falling increases.

Additionally, the National Council on Aging reports that people with vision loss have almost twice the risk of falls as adults without vision impairment. People with hearing loss have nearly three times the risk of falling compared to those with normal hearing.

Make annual eye exams and hearing tests part of their routine care, especially if you’ve noticed changes in how they move or respond to their environment. Encourage them to wear their updated glasses, clean lenses regularly, and use hearing aids as prescribed.

Clearer vision and sharper hearing help older adults stay aware of their surroundings—and that awareness plays a big role in safer, steadier movement.

9. Keep Frequently Used Items Easily Accessible to Older Adults

Limit bending, twisting, and stretching. Place frequently used items—phone, glasses, remote, walker tips, reading materials, medications—at mid‑level shelves, bedside surfaces, or waist‑high drawers.

Label storage spots so things return to the same place. Consistent placement reduces risky reaching and makes the home easier to manage for both seniors and caregivers.

10. Consider a Professional Home Safety Assessment

Some hazards are easy to miss when you or your loved one lives with them every day. That’s where a trained eye helps.

At New Estuary Home Care, every new client relationship begins with a safety conversation, often including an in‑home review of fall risks. We look at flooring transitions, lighting, bathroom access, mobility aids, medication routines, and daily traffic patterns through Hampstead homes.

From there, we create a practical safety action list you can tackle in stages. Our registered nurses and care team can:

Recommend grab bars, ramps, seating, and adaptive equipment.
Identify medication side effects that may affect balance.
Coach safe transfers from bed, chair, or toilet.
Monitor changes in gait, cognition, or strength that raise fall risk.
Provide hands‑on support with bathing, dressing, and mobility when needed.

Families across the Cape Fear region turn to us for steady help that keeps loved ones safer at home. This can all be overwhelming, but our home care for seniors makes it feel easier.

Book a Fall Safety Consultation & Make Your Home Safer

Taking small, consistent steps today creates a much safer tomorrow. Each of these strategies helps prevent falls, protect independence, and improve quality of life for seniors across North Carolina.

Home care fills the gap between doctor visits and family drop‑ins, especially when mobility, memory, or medication changes increase the chance of a fall.

At New Estuary Home Care, we bring RN‑guided planning and compassionate caregivers to your doorstep. Through our at-home assessments, our health care providers also help spot risks early, put practical fixes in place, and provide daily support that lets loved ones age in place with confidence.