Bathroom & Fall Safety
Senior Fall Risk & Home Safety Checklist
Use this fall risk assessment tool and home safety checklist for seniors to score an elderly parent's fall risk and find the hazards in their home. Answer the fall-risk questions, tick the safety items that are already in place, and get a fall risk level plus a prioritized list of what to fix first.
Assessment
Your results
Answer Part A and tick the items already in place. Anything left unchecked becomes a hazard on your to-do list.
How the score is interpreted
Each fall-risk factor adds points. The points add up to a total score, and the total falls into one of three bands. A higher band does not mean a fall is certain — it means more risk factors are stacking up and the home should be made safer sooner.
| Score | Risk level | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–24 | Low | Few risk factors. Keep up good habits and recheck the home yearly. |
| 25–49 | Moderate | Several factors stacking up. Fix the unchecked hazards and review medications and balance with a doctor. |
| 50+ | High | Many factors. Make the home safer now and arrange a clinical fall-risk assessment promptly. |
Common mistakes
- Treating one near-miss as nothing — a fall in the last year is the single biggest predictor of the next one.
- Fixing the living room but ignoring the night-time path to the bathroom, where many falls happen.
- Keeping a "favorite" loose rug; even a low rug edge is a common trip hazard.
- Adding a walking aid but never having it fitted, so it is the wrong height and used incorrectly.
- Assuming a low score means no action — recheck after any medication change, illness, or new aid.
Not a clinical diagnosis
This is an educational screening tool to help an adult child spot risk factors and home hazards. It is not a clinical diagnosis. Clinicians use validated instruments such as the Morse Fall Scale and the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model for formal assessment. Use this checklist to start the conversation, not to replace it.
Safety note
Discuss your results with the person's doctor, pharmacist, or an occupational therapist — especially if there has been a fall, the score is Moderate or High, or there are vision, balance, or medication concerns. A professional can review medications, check balance and strength, and recommend the right aids and home changes.
FAQ
Fall risk & home safety FAQ
How is the fall risk score calculated?
Each risk factor adds points — a fall in the last year, multiple falls, four or more medications, a walking aid, an unsteady gait, vision or memory problems, night trips to the toilet, and living alone. The points add up to a score that falls into a Low, Moderate, or High band.
What do the fall risk bands mean?
A score of 0 to 24 is Low risk, 25 to 49 is Moderate risk, and 50 or more is High risk. Higher scores mean more risk factors stack up and the home should be made safer sooner.
Is this a medical diagnosis?
No. This is an educational screening tool, not a clinical diagnosis. Clinicians use validated scales such as the Morse Fall Scale and the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model. Share your results with a doctor or therapist for a proper assessment.
What counts as a home hazard here?
Every safety item you leave unchecked is treated as a hazard — for example missing grab bars, loose rugs, poor lighting, or no stair handrails. The tool counts the unchecked items and lists the top ones to fix first.
What should I fix first to prevent falls?
Start with the bathroom and the path to it at night — grab bars, a non-slip mat, and night lights — then remove loose rugs and cords and add handrails on both sides of stairs. The recommendation list prioritizes the unchecked items for you.