Night lights for fall prevention work best along the route you actually walk in the dark: from your bed, through the hallway and into the bathroom. Choose plug-in lights that switch on automatically in the dark or when you move, keep a lamp you can reach from bed, and sit up for a moment before you stand.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.
CDC says more than one out of four older people falls each year, and that falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries in older adults. A trip to the bathroom at night stacks several risks together: you're groggy, the house is dark, and it's easy to stand up too fast.
Light is one of the simplest fixes. As CDC's fall prevention brochure puts it, as you get older, you need brighter lights to see well.
Think of night lights as a lit path, not a few random plugs. Start at the bed and follow the route you take in the dark.
Beside the bed. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) suggests putting night lights and light switches close to your bed. If the bedside lamp is hard to reach, CDC suggests placing a lamp close to the bed where it's easy to reach, so you never have to get up in the dark.
Along the path to the bathroom. CDC's home checklist says that if the path from your bed to the bathroom is dark, you should put in a night light. Add as many as it takes to close the dark gaps.
In the hallway. NIA recommends good lighting with light switches at each end of a long hall. It also suggests motion-activated lights that plug into outlets and turn on automatically when you walk by.
In the bathroom. NIA says to leave a light on in the bathroom at night or use a night light that turns on automatically in the dark.
On the stairs. CDC suggests an overhead light and a light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs, and notes that glowing switches are available. Have someone replace burned-out stair bulbs right away. Our stair safety guide covers handrails and treads.
At the front door. NIA suggests turning on your porch light at night, and also when you leave during the day but plan to come home after dark.
Automatic lights. CDC notes that some night lights turn on automatically after dark, so no one has to remember to switch them on.
Motion-activated plug-in lights. NIA suggests these for hallways and stairs because they light up as you walk by.
Glowing light switches. CDC mentions them for stairs. They're easy to find with a sleepy hand.
Brighter light overall. CDC suggests improving lighting and using lightweight curtains or shades to reduce glare.
A flashlight by the bed. NIA suggests keeping one within reach in case the power goes out and you need to get up.
Night lights are cheap and quick, but they don't replace a working lamp or ceiling light. If a switch is hard to reach or a bulb is out, fix that first.
Keep a landline or a well-charged phone near your bed (NIA).
Clear books, papers, clothes and shoes off the floor (NIA), and run cords along the wall so you can't trip over them (CDC).
Remove throw rugs, or secure them with double-sided tape or non-slip backing (CDC).
CDC suggests wearing well-fitting, supportive shoes indoors and outdoors. Keep a supportive pair where you can step into them.
Get up in stages. Some people feel dizzy or lightheaded when they stand up. CDC's brochure on postural hypotension suggests getting out of bed slowly: first sit up, then sit on the side of the bed, then stand.
This is an example routine, not an official checklist. Do it once after dark with the main lights off.
Lie down in bed and reach for the lamp or switch. Can you turn on a light without getting up?
Walk slowly to the bathroom the way you would in the middle of the night. Note every spot where you can't clearly see the floor.
Check the bathroom. Does a light come on, or is one already on?
Look for anything on the floor along the route, such as cords, rugs, shoes or a pet bed.
If the route includes stairs, check that you can light them from both the top and the bottom.
Add a night light at each dark spot, then walk the route again the next night.
Doing this for an aging parent? Walk the route together and let them decide where the lights go, since they know their own habits best. For the rest of the house, see our home safety checklist for aging parents.
Lighting helps, but many falls have health causes too. CDC suggests these steps:
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review everything you take, including over-the-counter products. Some medicines, or combinations of medicines, can make you sleepy or dizzy and can cause you to fall.
See an eye doctor once a year and update your glasses if needed.
Have your feet checked each year and ask about proper footwear.
Ask which exercises would improve your strength and balance. CDC gives Tai Chi as one example, and our sister site has a guide to balance exercises for seniors.
Tell your healthcare provider about any dizziness or lightheadedness when you stand up.
Mention any fall or near miss at your next appointment. If someone falls and is badly hurt, hits their head, or can't get up, call 911.
Along the path you walk at night: beside the bed, in the hallway, in the bathroom and on any stairs. CDC and NIA both focus on the route from the bedroom to the bathroom.
Both help. Motion-activated plug-in lights, which NIA suggests, come on as you walk by. Automatic night lights come on when it gets dark and stay on. You can mix both along one route.
The bedroom doesn't need to be bright, but no one should walk in the dark. NIA suggests night lights and switches close to the bed, and a light left on in the bathroom or a night light that turns on automatically.
There's no set number. Use the night walk test above and add a light wherever you can't see the floor clearly.
RoomMend: Safer Home Plans is an iPhone and iPad app for checking your home, or a parent's, room by room, with guided walkthroughs based on public CDC, NIA, NFPA and CPSC guidance. You can log a dark hallway or a hard-to-reach lamp in about three taps with an optional photo, place numbered markers on that photo, and track the fix until it's done, with a reminder to look again after 30 days. It works offline without an account, and it is not a fall-risk assessment or a medical tool.
Get RoomMend free on the App Store