A home safety checklist for dementia starts with the biggest dangers: lock up medicines, chemicals and weapons, make the stove hard to use unsupervised, set the water heater to 120°F, add lighting and clear tripping hazards, and secure doors once wandering is a risk. Then go room by room, and repeat as abilities change.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) explains that people with Alzheimer's disease gradually become less able to manage things around the house. They may forget to turn off the oven or a faucet, or forget how to use the phone in an emergency. They may also not see, smell, touch, hear or taste things the way they used to. For example, NIA notes they may not smell smoke or an unlit gas stove.
NIA suggests going through the house room by room. Fix immediate dangers first, such as loose stair railings and poor lighting, then keep reassessing as behavior and abilities change. The Alzheimer's Association adds a useful balance: try not to make the home feel too restrictive, and keep space for activities the person enjoys.
This example checklist is built from NIA and Alzheimer's Association guidance. It is not an official list, and not every item will apply yet.
Kitchen
Add safety knobs and an automatic shut-off switch to the stove (NIA). Knob covers, removing the knobs, or a gas shut-off valve can also block unsafe use (Alzheimer's Association).
Choose appliances with automatic shut-off where you can (Alzheimer's Association).
Consider disconnecting the garbage disposal (NIA, Alzheimer's Association).
Put "Stop!" or "Very Hot" signs near the oven, toaster and iron, not so close that they could catch fire (NIA).
Remove artificial fruit and food-shaped magnets that might seem edible, and check the fridge often for spoiled food (NIA).
Medicines, chemicals and weapons
Lock up or remove prescription and over-the-counter medicines, alcohol, cleaning products, laundry detergent pods, matches, rubbing alcohol, paint thinner, gasoline and poisonous plants (NIA).
Keep medications in a locked drawer or cabinet, and use a pill organizer or daily checklist to track doses (Alzheimer's Association).
Keep cleaning products in their original labeled containers, never decorative ones (Alzheimer's Association).
Lock up or remove guns and other weapons, knives, scissors and power tools (NIA). The Alzheimer's Association warns that a person may mistake a familiar relative for an intruder.
Bathroom and hot water
Set the water heater to 120°F to avoid scalding (NIA). The Alzheimer's Association notes it can be hard for a person with dementia to tell hot from cold.
Label hot taps red and cold taps blue, or write "hot" and "cold" near them (NIA).
Install grab bars in the tub or shower, in a color that contrasts with the wall, and grab bars or a raised toilet seat with handrails by the toilet (NIA).
Use nonskid strips or mats in the tub and shower, a shower stool and a hand-held shower head (NIA).
Remove small electrical appliances and lock up toothpaste, lotions, shampoo and perfume, which may look or smell like food (NIA).
Lighting, floors and falls
Add night lights or automatic light sensors (NIA), and extra lighting in entries, hallways, stairways and bathrooms, because changes in light can be disorienting (Alzheimer's Association).
Mark the edges of steps with brightly colored tape (NIA).
Remove throw rugs, extension cords and extra clutter (Alzheimer's Association).
Avoid busy floor patterns. NIA explains that a person with Alzheimer's may see a change in flooring, like carpet to tile, as a step.
Secure bookshelves, cabinets and large TVs so they cannot tip (Alzheimer's Association).
Bedroom
Use a room monitor, like a baby monitor, to hear a fall or call for help at night (NIA).
Remove portable space heaters, and keep controls for electric blankets and heating pads out of reach (NIA).
Doors and wandering
Keep doors locked. Consider a keyed deadbolt or an extra lock placed up high or down low, and keep a key nearby for emergencies (NIA).
Install a smart doorbell or alarm that chimes when a door opens (NIA), or bells above doors or a pressure-sensitive mat (Alzheimer's Association).
Remove interior locks so the person cannot lock themselves in a room (Alzheimer's Association).
Place STOP or DO NOT ENTER signs on doors, limit how far windows open, and secure the yard with a fence and locked gate (NIA).
Keep shoes, keys, coats and suitcases out of sight (NIA).
Have the person carry ID or wear a medical bracelet, label clothing if they might remove it, keep a recent photo, and tell neighbors and local police that they may wander (NIA).
Alarms, garage and outdoors
Use smoke and natural gas detectors and check them often (NIA). Make sure CO alarms and fire extinguishers are in place too (Alzheimer's Association).
Post emergency numbers and the home address near every phone (NIA).
Watch garages, workrooms and basements, and limit access to mowers, trimmers and snow blowers (Alzheimer's Association).
For more on kitchens and hot water, see our guides to kitchen safety for seniors and water heater temperature.
NIA says a doctor may suggest that an occupational therapist, physical therapist or nurse visit the home to assess its safety and advise on changes. Ask about this, especially after a fall. NIA also notes that help paying for safety updates may be available through your state housing finance agency, social services, community groups or the Eldercare Locator. Our aging in place home modifications guide covers how assessments work.
If the person is missing: the Alzheimer's Association says to begin searching immediately, starting nearby, and to call 911 if they are not found within 15 minutes. Tell the dispatcher the person has dementia.
Fire, smoke or a gas smell: get everyone out and call 911 from outside.
Talk to their doctor if they fall, start to wander, have trouble managing medicines, or show changes in behavior you are unsure how to handle.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.
NIA suggests safety knobs and an automatic shut-off switch. The Alzheimer's Association adds knob covers, removing the knobs or a gas shut-off valve.
Use door chimes or alarms, locks placed high or low, and keep shoes, keys and coats out of sight (NIA). A pressure-sensitive mat by the bed or door can alert you to movement (Alzheimer's Association).
Yes. NIA and the Alzheimer's Association both recommend storing medicines in a locked area. Ask the pharmacist about tools for tracking doses.
Ask the doctor. NIA notes an occupational therapist, physical therapist or nurse can visit and assess the home.
RoomMend: Safer Home Plans is a free iPhone and iPad app, with an optional RoomMend Plus upgrade, that sets up a room-by-room checklist for your own home or a parent's. Family caregivers can log an issue like an unlocked medicine cabinet in about three taps, give each fix an owner, target date and notes, and share before and after photos as plain text or PDF. It is not a medical tool or a fall-risk assessment, so use it alongside the doctor and an occupational therapist.
Get RoomMend free on the App Store
Alzheimer's Caregiving: Home Safety Tips (National Institute on Aging)
Coping With Alzheimer's Behaviors: Wandering and Getting Lost (National Institute on Aging)
Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room (National Institute on Aging)