Their House
"Dad is determined to stay in that house." Fine — then the job is making the house match reality, starting with the two places where falls actually happen: the bathroom and the stairs. Most of the high-impact fixes are cheap, and none of them have to look institutional.
Start here
Bathroom safety changes that don't make the house feel institutional
The bathroom is where the stakes are highest and the aesthetics matter most. Grab bars, non-slip flooring, better lighting, and a toilet-height conversation.
Bathroom guide →Motion & night lighting: worth it or not?
Lighting is the cheapest safety upgrade in the house. Here's what actually helps a 2 a.m. trip to the bathroom.
Decision guide →The house checklist, in order
Until the full room-by-room walkthrough tool ships (it's next), use this ordering. It follows the evidence on where falls and emergencies happen, not what's cheapest to photograph:
- Bathroom — grab bars at the toilet and shower, non-slip flooring, night path lighting, and a shower chair if balance is shaky. See the bathroom guide.
- Stairs — both handrails secured, contrasting edge strips, adequate light at top and bottom, nothing stored on steps. If they're already unsteady, a professional (occupational therapist or contractor) should assess before you spend on bigger fixes.
- Lighting — brighten dark hallways and the path from bed to bathroom. See the night-lighting guide.
- Emergency access — can someone get in if they can't get to the door? A lockbox or a trusted neighbor with a key, and a phone that's easy to reach from the floor.
- Kitchen — frequently used items within easy reach, a working fire extinguisher, and a clear path to the stove.
What this is not: this is not a medical, occupational-therapy, or building-code assessment, and nothing here produces a "safe to live alone" verdict. If balance, memory, or mobility are already raising questions, involve a professional — see Care & Safety for how to start that conversation.
Coming soon
The Home Readiness / Can They Stay Here? tool — a structured walkthrough of entrances, stairs, bathroom, lighting, bedroom, kitchen, emergency access, and communication — with "fix now / plan / optional" output and no false precision. Until then, the ordering above is the same guidance in reading form.