Reduce immediate hazards
- Secure medications, cleaning products, chemicals, tools, firearms, and other dangerous items.
- Check smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors and keep emergency numbers visible.
- Remove tripping hazards and keep rooms and transitions evenly lit.
- Assess kitchen appliances, stove controls, hot water, and food safety.
- Secure large furniture and televisions that could tip.
Support orientation and safe routines
- Keep the environment calm, familiar, and easy to navigate.
- Use simple labels or visual cues when they reduce confusion.
- Monitor doors, exits, garages, basements, and outdoor areas according to wandering risk.
- Maintain clear walking paths and consistent placement of important items.
- Avoid making the home unnecessarily restrictive; preserve safe independence and meaningful activity.
Plan for changing needs
- Discuss new behavior, wandering, falls, sleep changes, or sudden confusion with the appropriate healthcare professional.
- Create a family plan for emergencies and for times when the primary caregiver is unavailable.
- Review whether respite, daytime supervision, overnight help, or continuous care is needed.
- Reassess driving, cooking, medication access, and time spent alone as abilities change.
For a detailed safety resource, visit the Alzheimer’s Association home-safety guidance.
Important: This guide provides general educational information, not medical advice. Follow instructions from the person’s physician, nurse, therapist, pharmacist, discharge team, or emergency professionals. Call 911 for an emergency.