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The 47-Point Home Safety Audit

Most fall hazards aren’t dramatic — they’re small, easy-to-miss details a family walks past every day without noticing. This is the complete checklist referenced throughout SafeNest Senior: 47 specific items across 6 rooms and categories, organized by where risk actually concentrates, not in random order. Tap or click each box as you go — your progress is saved automatically.

How this list was built: Item selection is grounded in the same clinical framing used throughout this site — the bathroom is weighted heaviest because it’s the highest-risk room per CDC and CPSC data (see our fall prevention guide), and nighttime navigation is weighted second because most falls occur during the 11 PM–6 AM window. This is a self-guided checklist, not a substitute for a professional occupational therapy home assessment.

How to use this checklist

Walk through the home room by room with this list open — ideally with the senior present, since they’ll notice habits and workarounds a visitor wouldn’t. Most homes fail 8–15 of the 47 items on a first pass; that’s normal, not alarming. Start with anything in the Bathroom and Bedroom & Nighttime sections first — those two categories carry the highest fall risk. See our Cost Guide for what fixing common gaps actually costs.

Your Progress 0 of 47 complete

Bathroom

12 items · Highest priority

Bedroom & Nighttime Path

8 items · High priority
Why this section is weighted second: disorientation, medication effects, and low light combine overnight to create peak-risk conditions — see our nighttime strategies guide for detail.

Stairs & Hallways

7 items

Kitchen & Living Areas

8 items

Lighting (Whole Home)

6 items

Emergency Preparedness

6 items

Want a personalized starting point instead?

Our 4-step risk quiz takes about 90 seconds and tells you which sections of this checklist matter most for a specific situation, based on fall history, current home setup, and nighttime mobility.

Take the Free Risk Quiz →

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a full 47-point audit actually take?

Most families complete a first pass in about 30 minutes, walking room to room. It typically takes longer the first time simply because most homes have several items to note and discuss, not because the checklist itself is complicated.

What if a home fails most of the bathroom section?

That’s the most common outcome, not a red flag specific to one home — the bathroom is consistently the highest-risk room in fall statistics. Start with the free and low-cost items (mats, lighting, rug removal) immediately, then schedule grab bar installation. See our Cost Guide for realistic pricing.

Is this checklist a replacement for a professional occupational therapy assessment?

No. This is a practical, self-guided starting point built on published clinical guidance, not an individualized clinical evaluation. For a comprehensive, personalized assessment — especially after a fall or a new diagnosis — an in-home visit from an occupational therapist is the appropriate next step.

Does my checklist progress get saved?

Yes — your checked items are saved automatically in your browser on this device, so you can close the tab and come back later without losing progress. This data stays on your device only; it is not sent to SafeNest Senior or stored on our servers. See our Privacy Policy.

Page last reviewed: August 2026 · Fall Prevention Guide → · Cost Guide →

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