Ask the O-Tee

STAYING SAFE AT HOME

How Do I Know If My Home Is Safe Enough?

Older adult standing at a kitchen sink washing vegetables at home

You got it done, but how did you get it done?

Short Answer

Your home can look perfectly safe and still not be working safely for you. The clues aren't always obvious, and you don't have to wait for something bad to happen to start paying attention.

Why It's Important

Most people don't walk around their house thinking, “Is my home safe?” You've probably lived there for years. You know where everything is and how you normally do things. But here's something we don't always think about: You will change even when your home doesn't.

Maybe you're getting tired more quickly. Your balance isn't what it used to be. You're having more pain. You're forgetting things. Or something you used to do without thinking now takes more effort. That's when you may start making little adjustments without even realizing it, like grabbing the towel rack to get off the toilet, holding onto furniture on the way to the bathroom, avoiding the stairs, or leaving things downstairs because you don't want to make another trip. Eventually, those adjustments can start to feel completely normal. So instead of only asking “Is my house safe?”, consider another question: “Is my home still working safely for me today, and will it continue to work for me tomorrow?”

5 Ways to Tell if Your Home Is Safe for You

1. Think About What's Changed With You

Are you more tired than you used to be? Less steady? Having more pain? Getting short of breath? Taking longer to get things done?

Sometimes we immediately look around the house for the problem. But remember: the house may not be what changed. A change in you can change how well your home works for you.

2. Notice What You're Avoiding or Have Stopped Doing

Have you stopped going upstairs? Using a certain shower? Carrying laundry? Cooking? Gardening? Getting the mail? Participating in a hobby you enjoy? Don't just ask yourself what you've stopped doing. Ask yourself: “Why am I not doing this anymore?” Maybe it takes too much energy. Maybe you're worried about falling. Maybe it hurts. Maybe getting there has become difficult. Sometimes we gradually work around a problem without realizing how much it may be affecting our independence and the way we live our everyday lives.

3. Pay Attention to Changes in Your Memory or Thinking

Changes aren't always physical. Are you forgetting where you put things more often? Leaving things on? Having trouble keeping track of familiar routines? Are everyday tasks requiring more reminders than they used to? Here's something important: you may not always notice the change yourself. When we do something differently over and over again, the new way can start to feel completely normal. That doesn't automatically mean something is seriously wrong. It simply means the change is worth noticing, especially when it begins affecting how you manage everyday life at home.

4. Pay Attention to HOW You're Getting Things Done

You may still be bathing, dressing, cooking, getting around your home, and doing everything you've always done.

But how are you doing it now? Imagine someone saying: “I don't need anything to help me get in and out of the shower.”

But when you actually watch what happens, every time they step out, they reach forward and steady themselves on the sink.

They're not being dishonest. They may genuinely not realize they're doing it anymore. Reaching for the sink has become such a normal part of getting out of the shower that it doesn't feel like “help.” It's simply how they get out.

The same thing can happen when you:

• Pull on a towel rack to stand
• Reach for furniture while walking
• Use a doorframe to steady yourself
• Sit down halfway through getting dressed
• Take several tries to stand from your favorite chair
• Change how you carry things so you can keep one hand free for support

A workaround can become a habit. And a habit can feel perfectly normal. Sometimes the question isn't “Can I still do it?” It's: “How am I doing it now?”

Older adult pulling a shirt over his head while getting dressed

You got dressed. But how hard did you have to work to do it?

5. Consider Having Another Set of Eyes Look at What's Going On

Sometimes it's hard to recognize changes because you've gradually adjusted to them. What feels completely normal to you may look very different to someone watching how you're actually moving through your day. Another set of trained eyes can look beyond the obvious things like loose rugs, lighting, or grab bars and pay attention to how you're actually living in your home: what you're doing, how you're doing it, what's becoming difficult, and what you've stopped doing. An occupational therapist who works with people in their homes is one professional who can help look at the person, the activity, and the home together. The goal isn't to walk through your house looking for everything that's “wrong.”It's to understand what's happening before jumping to a solution.

When Is It Time to Take a Closer Look?

It may be time to pay more attention if you:

• Have fallen or experienced several close calls
• Hold onto walls, furniture, towel racks, counters, or other objects for support
• Avoid certain rooms, stairs, entrances, or activities
• Have difficulty getting in or out of the shower, bed, chair, or toilet
• Notice that everyday activities are becoming harder or taking much longer
• Have family or friends who have started expressing concerns

None of these automatically means you need expensive equipment, a major renovation, or ongoing therapy. They're clues worth paying attention to. Don't wait for a fall to be the first sign that something has changed.

What If I Notice Some of These Things?

Start by paying attention to when, where, and how the difficulty happens. Is getting out of bed harder first thing in the morning? Are the stairs more difficult when you're carrying something? Do you avoid the shower because stepping over the side has become harder? Are you reaching for furniture more when you're tired? Those details matter because they can help you understand the problem before deciding on the solution. And don't automatically assume that noticing a problem means you need to remodel your house or buy equipment. Start with the problem. Then look for the solution that actually fits. Sometimes the answer may be a small change in how you do something or how your space is set up. Other times, making your home work better may involve equipment, changes to the home, additional help, or a professional evaluation.

Start with the problem. Then look for the solution that actually fits.

Why Does This Matter?

I'm assuming if you are questioning your home's safety, there's probably a reason. Let me guess: You want to stay here! You want to get up in your own bedroom. Make coffee in your own kitchen. Sit in your favorite chair. Have people over. Do the things that make your days yours! And you don't just want to be in your home. You want to be YOU in your home! That's why paying attention to the small changes matters. The goal isn't simply to prevent something bad from happening. It's to recognize what's changing early enough to find ways to help your home continue to support the life you want to live in it.

Why Functional Home Transformations?

Some might call me nosy...I prefer curious! Because when it comes to figuring out what's happening in your home, I ask a lot of questions. But there's always a rhyme to my reason. At Functional Home Transformations, instead of coming into your home with answers, I start with questions.

What is happening?
When does it happen?
Where are you when it happens?
How are you getting it done now?
And one of my favorites: Why are you doing it that way?

Sometimes the answer is obvious. Sometimes that last question makes you stop and think, “Huh. I don't know. I guess I've just started doing it this way.” But I don't just want you to tell me. I want you to show me. Show me how you normally do it.

Show me how you get ready in the morning. Show me how you get your laundry from one place to another. Show me how you get something out of that cabinet you use every day. Show me what you do when you need to go upstairs. Don't do it differently because I'm watching. Show me how you really do it. Because sometimes what we think we're doing and what we're actually doing aren't quite the same. And when you've been doing something a certain way for a long time, you may not even realize you've changed it. That's how we start figuring out what's actually happening before jumping to a solution. I don't want to walk in assuming you need a grab bar, a ramp, a shower chair, or a renovation. Before we decide what might help, let's first figure out what's really going on.I want the solution to come from understanding the problem not the other way around.

So… What Else Is On Your Mind?

If this article got you thinking about your home a little differently, I'm sure you have a few more questions. Here are some I hear pretty often.

What Does My House Have to Do With My Health?

More than you might think. Your home can affect how safely and independently you move, take care of yourself, rest, prepare meals, manage your routines, and do the everyday things that matter to you. Your health affects how you live in your home, and your home can affect how you live with your health.

Can My Home Be Changed to Meet My Needs?

In many cases, yes. And adapting your home doesn't always mean a major renovation. Sometimes small changes in the environment, setup, equipment, or even how an activity is done can make a meaningful difference. The right change depends on you, what you're trying to do, and what's getting in the way.

What Exactly Is a Home Modification?

A home modification is a change to the home that helps it work better for the person living there. It can be something simple or something more involved, depending on what's needed. The important part isn't just changing the house. It's understanding why the change is needed in the first place.

Still Wondering About Your Home?

You don't have to know exactly what's wrong, or already have the solution in mind. Sometimes you just know something isn't working the way it used to.

And that's a good place to start.

Let's Figure It Out Together.

About the Author

Tomeeker "Tee" Gary, OTR/L

Tee Gary is an occupational therapist and home modification specialist with more than 20 years of experience. She is the founder of Functional Home Transformations, where she helps older adults and family caregivers who are worried about safety, independence, or keeping up with everyday routines find practical solutions that make living at home safer, easier, and more manageable.

Her approach starts with understanding the person, what they want and need to do, and how their home is working for them—today and tomorrow.

Clinical Disclaimer

This information is provided for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for an individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment plan. Contact a qualified healthcare professional with questions about your specific needs or medical condition.