5 Simple Home Safety Checks for Elderly Parents in Kenya

Keeping a parent or older relative safe at home does not need an expensive renovation — a short walk through the house with a critical eye catches most hazards. Here are five checks worth doing this week.

1. Clear the walking paths

Flex cables, low stools, shoes left by the door and loose boxes are common tripping hazards. Walk the main routes between the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen and remove anything that narrows the path.

2. Secure or remove loose rugs and mats

A rug that slides on a tiled or polished floor is one of the most common causes of falls at home. Either remove loose mats from walkways or fix them in place with non-slip backing tape.

3. Add grab bars in the bathroom

The bathroom is the highest-risk room in the house. A securely wall-mounted grab bar near the toilet and inside the shower gives something solid to hold onto when sitting, standing or stepping over a tub edge.

4. Improve lighting, especially at night

Install a plug-in night light along the route from the bedroom to the bathroom, and make sure switches are easy to reach from the bed. Poor lighting at night is a major contributor to falls.

5. Keep a charged phone within reach

A phone on a bedside table, not across the room, means help is a call away if something does happen. Consider a simple corded landline or a phone with large buttons if dialling small numbers is difficult.

None of these checks replace a proper assessment from a doctor or occupational therapist if mobility has changed recently, but together they remove a lot of everyday risk. If you are looking for specific products like grab bars, non-slip mats or shower chairs, browse our Bathroom & Toilet Safety range at betterlivingkenya.com.