Keeping safe: reducing the risk of a fall at home

• Keep important items in the same place. For example, put keys, phones, glasses, wallets or purses in a clear plastic box or large bowl.
• Consider having a basket or tray for important paperwork or letters. Go through this basket regularly to stop papers building up. 
• If you have lots of appliances and only one socket, use a strip extension lead that has overload and surge protection. These are long extension leads with lots of sockets in, and are safer than using lots of adapters. 
• Be very careful not to plug too many things into the same socket or extension lead.
• Consider asking an electrician to blank any sockets which are not being used, and to move plug sockets or light switches to places that are easier to reach. 
• You can also use a cable tidy, which keeps loose cables together.
• To stay organised, try using large-faced clocks and calendars to keep track of dates and appointments. We also produce the booklet My appointments, which may be useful for keeping track of any appointments you have with health and social care professionals.

Many cleaning products used in households can be dangerous if they are accidentally eaten, drunk or spilled on the skin. They can also sometimes look very similar in size and shape to food or drink.

Dementia may cause you to confuse a cleaning product with something you can eat or drink – for example, mistaking a laundry capsule or liquid for sweets or milk. This can lead to very severe and even fatal injuries.

Keep household chemicals out of sight. This includes laundry detergents, dishwasher tablets and bleaches. They should be in a closed or locked cupboard, away from food, drink or medicines. 

Tips to reduce the risk of accidents

• Label cupboards to remind you what’s inside.
• Keep cleaning products in the same place and don’t leave them out, particularly in the kitchen.
• Use cleaning products that are familiar to you and different in size and shape from foods and drinks. For example, use a box of laundry powder rather than smaller bottles of liquids or laundry pods.
• Use original containers. Don’t transfer cleaning products into a different container. Always replace the cap securely.

• Check that natural light is coming in through the windows. 
• Move curtains, blinds, furniture, TVs or plants so they don’t block out the light. 
• Keep windows clean. You may need to ask someone for help with this, or choose to pay for a window cleaner. 
• If it is safe, use extra lighting such as lamps. Try to use the brightest bulb you can for the specific fittings.
• Helpful lighting options include touch-operated lamps and sensor lights, which may be easier if finding switches becomes more difficult. 
• Keep a torch by your bed.

Keep your floors as clear and ordered as you can to reduce the risk of trips and falls. If you have the budget, consider laying plain-coloured matt flooring or carpet throughout the whole home. 

In particular, be aware that shiny floors or surfaces can look wet or slippery, while dark rugs may look like obstacles or holes in the floor.

• Make sure any carpet edging or cover strips holding the carpet down are a similar colour to the floor. 
• Clearly show the edges of stairs or steps. This can be done with brightly coloured tape, paint or special stair edging called ‘nosing’. 
• Remove loose floor mats and rugs, as they can cause trips and falls, especially if they are frayed or slide on the floor. 
• Consider keeping any mats designed for safety though, such as bath and shower mats. Ensure they have a rubber backing so they do not slide around.
• If you have stairs, fit grab rails alongside the staircase in a contrasting colour to the wall. You may also want to consider a stairlift.

• Chairs with arms are much easier to get out of. You may also want to avoid backless seats and low chairs. 
• Bed hand blocks are designed to help you position yourself in bed and move around more easily. You may need practice to get used to doing this. 
• Riser-recliner chairs can be used to help you sit or stand. 
• Consider taking the doors off cupboards or storage units if it is safe to do this. This can make it easier to see what is inside without having to remember. 
• Fit cupboards with non-reflective, transparent and shatterproof fronts so you can see inside, if this is an option for you. 
• A transfer turntable can help another person support you when moving from one place to another. This is a device where you stand on a base which slowly turns. It can help you into or out of a bed or chair. 
• A perching stool can be used for tasks that involve standing up for periods of time. These are special seats that allow you to sit when doing tasks such as ironing and cleaning.