Caregiver guide
Dementia safety at home: a room-by-room checklist for caregivers
Dementia safety at home comes down to preventing falls, keeping your person from wandering off, and locking up the things that can hurt them, like the stove, medicines and chemicals. You don't have to change everything at once. Start with the biggest risks and check again as needs change.
What are the three main safety concerns for people with dementia?
Most caregivers start with three: falls, wandering and getting lost, and accidents with the stove, medicines, chemicals or tools.
Dementia affects judgment, balance, eyesight and memory. A person who cooked for 50 years may forget the burner is on. Someone who knows the house well may trip on a rug at night or walk out the door looking for a home they lived in long ago.
The good news is that small changes make a big difference. It's usually easier to change the home than to change a behavior. A safer home also means more freedom for your person and less worry for you.
How do I make a home safer for someone with dementia?
Keep three ideas in mind:
- Think ahead. Just because something hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. Look at each room through the eyes of someone who is confused.
- Change the space, not the person. Remove, lock or hide the hazard rather than relying on reminders.
- Lower the danger to raise independence. When the risky things are out of the way, your person can move around more freely.
Walk through your home with the checklist below. Not every tip will apply. Re-check every few months, since needs change as the disease progresses. Ask a friend or family member to help with bigger jobs.
Is it safe to leave someone with dementia alone?
It depends on the person and the stage, and the answer will change over time. Ask yourself whether your person:
- Gets confused or upset under stress
- Would recognize danger, like smoke or a stranger at the door
- Can use the phone and knows how to get help
- Stays content at home, or tends to wander
- Becomes anxious or withdrawn when alone
- Still tries risky activities, like cooking, driving or using power tools
If you're unsure about any of these, talk with the doctor. A free Care Navigation session can help you weigh options, and our Information & Referral service can connect you with in-home care or adult day programs.
Dementia safety checklist: throughout the home
Clear the paths
Remove throw rugs, clutter and cords where people walk. Keep furniture out of walkways.
Add light
Brighten hallways and stairs, add switches at both ends of stairs and use night-lights.
Make stairs safer
Install sturdy handrails, add grip strips and use a gate if balance is poor.
Test alarms
Put smoke and carbon monoxide alarms near the kitchen and every bedroom. Check batteries often.
Lock up medicines and alcohol
Keep all prescription and over-the-counter medicines locked. See our guide to managing medicines.
Remove or lock up weapons
Take guns out of the home, or store them locked and unloaded with ammunition kept separately.
Post key numbers
Put emergency numbers and your home address by every phone. Hide a spare key outside.
Watch for small hazards
Cover unused outlets, keep plastic bags out of reach and remove poisonous plants.
Stove and kitchen safety for dementia
Control the stove
Remove the knobs, use knob covers or install an automatic shut-off device. For a gas stove, ask about a shut-off valve.
Lock dangerous items
Use childproof latches on cabinets with cleaners, knives, matches and small appliances.
Clear the junk drawer
Small items like batteries or erasers can be mistaken for food.
Remove fake food
Wax fruit and food-shaped magnets can look good enough to eat.
Disconnect the garbage disposal
Hands and objects can end up inside it.
Keep a fire extinguisher handy
Store flammable liquids outside the kitchen, and know how to use the extinguisher.
Bathroom safety
Prevent slips
Use non-skid mats or strips in the tub and shower and on the floor.
Add support
Install grab bars in a contrasting color, and use a raised toilet seat and shower chair.
Prevent burns
Set the water heater to 120°F and use a single faucet that mixes hot and cold.
Remove the lock
Take the lock off the bathroom door so your person can't get locked in.
Clear the cabinet
Lock away medicines, razors and cleaners. Unplug and remove hair dryers and other small appliances.
Stay nearby
In later stages, don't leave your person alone in the bath or shower.
Bedroom and nighttime safety
Meet needs before bed
Offer the bathroom, a drink and a snack. Many night-time wakings come from hunger, thirst, pain or needing to go.
Light the way
Use night-lights from the bed to the bathroom.
Listen in
A simple baby monitor lets you hear a fall or a call for help.
Avoid heat hazards
Remove space heaters, and be careful with heating pads and electric blankets.
Soften falls
If your person may roll out of bed, a floor mat beside the bed can help. Ask the doctor about bed rails before using them.
Outside, pool and garage safety
Florida homes bring their own risks. Check these too.
Pools and lanais
Fence the pool with a self-latching gate, add alarms on doors to the pool or lanai, and never leave your person alone near water.
Garage, shed and tools
Lock the garage and shed. Lock up power tools, gasoline, fertilizer and pesticides.
Cars and keys
Keep car keys out of sight. A covered car is less likely to spark the urge to drive.
Walkways
Fix uneven paths, put away hoses and mark step edges with bright tape.
Heat
Make sure the air conditioning works and your person drinks enough water, especially in summer.
Safety door locks for dementia and wandering
Many people living with dementia walk away from home at some point. A few simple steps can buy you time:
- Place locks high or low on outside doors, where your person won't look.
- Try safety door knob covers or a lock that needs a key on both sides. Check with your fire department first, so everyone can still get out in an emergency.
- Add door chimes or alarms that sound when a door opens.
- Disguise doors with a curtain or a poster.
- Have your person wear a medical ID bracelet, and keep a recent photo ready.
If your person does go missing, call 911 right away.
When should someone with dementia stop driving?
There's no single right answer. Warning signs include getting lost on familiar routes, close calls, new dents in the car or confusion at intersections.
Often it helps if someone outside the family, like the doctor, makes the call, so you aren't the "bad guy." Before the conversation, line up other ways for your person to get around, so they don't lose their independence along with the keys.
Dementia safety products and devices
You can find most of what you need at hardware, medical supply and baby stores. Helpful items include:
- Stove shut-off devices and knob covers
- Door and window alarms, chimes and motion-sensor lights
- Cabinet latches and lock boxes for medicines
- Grab bars, shower chairs and raised toilet seats
- Baby monitors or simple cameras
- Medical ID bracelets and GPS trackers
Start with what fixes your biggest worry. Ask our team before spending money on something you're unsure about. We hear from local caregivers about what really works.
Questions caregivers ask about dementia safety at home
What is the best environment for people with dementia?
Calm, simple and familiar. Good lighting, little clutter, a steady daily routine and favorite things within reach help your person feel secure. Too much noise, too many people or a lot of change can cause stress and confusion.
Do I need to make all of these changes at once?
No. Start with the biggest risks for your person today, often the stove, medicines, falls and doors. Add more as needs change. Many changes may never be needed. It's okay to keep one space in the home just for you.
What are the safety issues of living alone with dementia?
Common worries are missed or doubled medicines, a stove left on, falls with no one to help, getting lost, poor eating and scams by phone or mail. If your person lives alone, plan regular check-ins and ask the doctor for a home safety review. Our Information & Referral service can suggest in-home help.
How do I prevent fires?
Test smoke alarms often, control the stove, remove space heaters, and keep matches and lighters out of sight. If your person smokes, stay with them while they do. Never leave them alone with candles or a lit grill.
What should I do about guns in the home?
The safest choice is to remove them from the home. If that's not possible, store them locked and unloaded, with the ammunition locked up in a separate place. People living with dementia may mistake a family member for an intruder.
Can you live a good life with dementia?
Yes, many people do, especially in the early and middle stages. A safe home, a daily routine, time with others and activities they enjoy all help. Learn more about stages and types of dementia on our Alzheimer's and dementia FAQ.
What should I do in a hurricane or power outage?
Plan ahead. Keep a kit with medicines, records and comfort items, and decide now where you'd go. Our guide to hurricane preparedness for seniors living with dementia walks you through it.
Is there a printable dementia home safety checklist?
Yes. Download the free National Institute on Aging booklet below. It goes room by room and includes tips on wandering, driving and natural disasters. You can also find it in our Caregiver Resource Library.
You don't have to do this alone
ADRC's free support groups are full of caregivers who've childproofed a kitchen or found the right door alarm. Our education workshops cover practical topics for families. And if a fall or sudden change lands your person in the ER, our guide to a dementia patient in hospital can help.
For a possible poisoning, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. In an emergency, call 911.
Download the free guide (PDF)
Home Safety for People with Alzheimer's Disease is a free room-by-room booklet from the National Institute on Aging. Based in part on National Institute on Aging guidance.
Talk with someone who understands
Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center (ADRC)
1470 Gene Street, Winter Park, FL 32789
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
The Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center (ADRC) in Winter Park, Florida, offers free help for caregivers in Orange and Seminole counties; call (407) 436-7750. In an emergency, call 911. The Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline is 800-272-3900.