Home Modifications

Wet floors, low toilets, and nothing safe to grab make the bathroom the highest-risk room in the house. Grab bars beside the toilet and in the shower, a raised toilet seat, a shower chair, and non-slip mats address the majority of the danger for a few hundred dollars. If you do nothing else, do the bathroom first.

Many night-time falls happen on the way to the bathroom. Motion-activated night lights along that path, brighter bulbs in stairwells and hallways, and light switches reachable from the bed make a real difference. Clearing clutter, securing or removing loose rugs, and taping down cords remove the trip hazards people stop noticing in a familiar home.

Moving everyday items to waist height avoids risky reaching and bending. Sturdy handrails on both sides of any stairs, contrast-marking the edge of each step, and a bench near the entry for putting on shoes all help. For some homes, a stairlift or a bedroom relocated to the main floor is what keeps living at home possible.

An occupational therapist can do a home safety assessment and recommend exactly what your home needs — and several programs help offset the cost of modifications and equipment in BC. We cover how to arrange an assessment, what funding exists, and the order to tackle changes so the highest-risk hazards go first.