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Preparing the home for changing needs

Most falls happen at home, and small changes prevent many of them: better lighting, rails where hands need them, cords and rugs out of walking paths. Preparing a home for changing needs is mostly a series of small, cheap fixes done room by room, long before a crisis forces the work.

The guides in this category give you a room-by-room check of the bathroom, kitchen, stairs, and bedroom, with the fixes that matter most first. You will also find how to plan for a hospital stay coming home, set up a bedroom on the ground floor, and decide which bigger projects, like a walk-in shower, are worth their cost.

The numbers

Figures for this topic
Death rate from falls, adults 65 and older (CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, 2023)69.9 per 100,000 people

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Three national programs connect you to help in your own community, at no cost:

Eldercare LocatorFind your local Area Agency on Aging and aging services near you.BenefitsCheckUpA benefits check from the National Council on Aging.State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)Free, unbiased help with Medicare questions from trained local counselors.

More in Your Home

Home ownership, renting, and maintenanceKeep up a home you own or rent: repairs, big expenses, and seasonal work.Housing choices and downsizingStay or move? Compare housing choices and downsize at a pace that works.Emergency and unexpected-event planningContact sheets, outage plans, and backup care for the days things go wrong.

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