Care Management • Eldercare Advocacy • Dementia Care

Basic Safety Measures

Basic Safety Measures for an Alzheimer's Disease Home

Act now. Don’t wait for an accident before you take simple safety measures. Intervene at the first sign of impairment.

To help avoid trips & falls:

  • Remove scatter rugs & electrical cords from walking areas.
  • Professionally install railings on stairs & patios, and grab bars in baths & showers
  • Add night lights, more lamps, or change bulbs to a higher wattage (if systems can tolerate the increase.)
  • Make certain chairs are heavy enough not to skid or tip backwards.


If your loved one wanders:

  • Use safety gates at stairs, pools. (make sure someone is available to open in emergency.)
  • Raise the lock on outside doors or put velcro in the same color cloth as the wall over the doorknob. Do not try either of these unless your loved one has 24-hour supervision to help evacuate in an emergency.


To help avoid accidental overdoses, poisonings, and cuts or stabbings:

  • Secure all medications out of sight and out of reach in locked cabinets.
  • Store firearms, chemicals, cleaning supplies, insect sprays out of sight and out of reach in locked cabinets.
  • Store knives, scissors, and most tools out of sight and out of reach in locked cabinets.
Share by: