Fall-proof a Cape house: a room-by-room checklist

What should I check, room by room?

Everywhere

• Rugs removed, or taped down on every edge
• Cords, baskets, shoes and piles off the walking paths
• A light switch at the entrance to every room, and night lights on the route to the bathroom
• Chairs with arms, at a height that is easy to rise from

Stairs

• A light switch at the top and bottom
• Handrails on both sides, running the full length
• Loose treads fixed; contrasting tape on the edge of each step if eyesight is poor
• Nothing stored on the stairs, ever

Bathroom

• Grab bars by the toilet and in the tub or shower
• Non-slip mat or strips in the tub or shower
• A shower chair and a hand-held shower head
• A raised toilet seat if getting up is hard

Bedroom

• A lamp you can reach from the bed, and a phone within reach
• A clear, lit path to the bathroom at night

Kitchen

• Everyday things between waist and shoulder height — no step stools
• Spills wiped straight away; no floor wax

What hazards are special to Cape houses?

• Steep Cape stairs to the only bedrooms and full bath — the biggest single risk in many houses. A second rail and good light first; a downstairs bedroom if it comes to it. See why Cape houses are hard to grow old in.
• Bulkhead and cellar stairs — steep, often unlit, often without a rail. Add both, or move the laundry upstairs.
• Outside steps and decks — rails on both sides, and a plan for ice and wet leaves.
• Brick and flagstone paths — moss and frost-heaved bricks are slippery and uneven.
• Outdoor showers — slick boards; add grip strips or stop using it.
• Beach and bluff stairs — a common place for a bad fall far from help.
• Dark roads and drives — many Cape roads have no streetlights; add motion lights at the door and along the drive.
• Winter — arrange sanding and shovelling before the first storm, not after.

What about the person, not just the house?

• Medicines: ask the doctor or pharmacist to review every one for dizziness or drowsiness, especially sleep aids and blood-pressure medicines.
• Eyes: a check every year; update glasses; take care on stairs in bifocals.
• Strength and balance: classes at Councils on Aging are often free. Physical therapy after a fall or a near-miss is often covered.
• Feet: firm shoes with thin non-slip soles, not slippers or socks.
• Getting up after a fall: if someone lives alone, arrange a way to call for help from the floor — a medical alert button, or a phone carried in a pocket.
• Tell the doctor about any fall, even with no injury. One fall is the strongest warning of the next.

Who pays for bigger changes?

The state’s Home Modification Loan Program offers zero-interest, deferred-payment loans for accessibility changes — accessible bathrooms and kitchens, ramps, stair lifts and similar — for households that include someone over 60 or someone with a disability, subject to income and documentation rules. It does not pay for roofs, windows, heating or septic.

Medicare does not usually pay for grab bars or home changes; it may cover some equipment, such as a walker, when prescribed. Veterans should ask the district veterans’ office about VA home-adaptation help.

Who on the Cape can help?

• Grab bars, ramps and home modification
• Handymen and licensed remodeling contractors
• Medical equipment and mobility aids
• Staying steady and getting around safely

Councils on Aging run balance classes and can often arrange a home-safety visit:

Mistakes families make

1. Waiting for the first fall before making any change.
2. Using towel bars, sinks or furniture as grab bars.
3. Wearing socks or loose slippers indoors, especially on stairs.
4. Keeping a fall quiet so the family won’t worry — and missing the chance to prevent the next one.
5. Paying a large deposit to a contractor who came to the door.