A few simple changes at home can make daily routines safer and help your loved one feel more ready to come home. 

When someone like your loved one is getting stronger in rehab, it’s always important to keep thinking about the setup back at home. It’s important to consider whether the resident can be safely discharged home. A facility like Pine Meadows Post Acute can help you get informed so you and your loved one can return home safely. Our therapy team can help you think through strength, balance, and daily tasks as you prepare your discharge questions. 

This guide walks through the home room by room. Keep in mind that every home is different, and so is every recovery. If a therapist’s advice differs from a general list like this one, follow the therapist. 

Why the Home Matters After a Fall or Hospital Stay 

According to CDC fall facts, more than 1 in 4 older adults fall each year. Falling once doubles the chance of falling again. In Kentucky, 9,728 adults age 65 and older were hospitalized for fall-related injuries in 2024. That same year, 415 older Kentuckians died from a fall-related injury. 

From 2018 through 2025, 46% of older Kentuckians hospitalized after a fall had a hip fracture. Only 15% went straight home to self-care, while 66% were discharged to a healthcare facility and 12% went home with home health. The Bluegrass Area Development District, which includes Lexington and Fayette County, was among the three Kentucky regions with the highest crude fall death rates for older adults during that period. 

Stairs, Entryways, and Hallways 

Start at the route your loved one will use on the first day home. Clear shoes, baskets, cords, and small furniture from the path between the door, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. 

• Install secure handrails on both sides of indoor stairs. 

• Place light switches at the top and bottom of stairways. 

• Add a sturdy rail or grab bar near the front door for balance while unlocking it. 

• Repair loose boards, uneven steps, or curled flooring. 

• Keep a clear place to set down bags before stepping inside. 

Lexington winters add another concern. Ice can collect on porch steps, driveways, and sidewalks. Keep ice melt or sand available, and choose another entrance if the usual path is slick. 

Bathroom Safety Changes 

The tub edge, wet floor, and tight turns can make the bathroom one of the most essential rooms to address after a hospital discharge. Each resident may have a unique health situation, so it is important to consider the right modifications in these rooms, since they’re among the most essential. Install grab bars beside the toilet and inside and outside the tub or shower. Towel bars and soap dishes aren’t built to hold body weight.  

Use nonslip strips or a nonslip mat on surfaces that get wet, and add a night light for the 2 a.m. bathroom trip. A shower chair, handheld shower, or raised toilet seat may help, but the right choice depends on height, strength, balance, and transfer technique. Ask a therapist before buying equipment. 

Bedroom Changes for Safer Nights 

Make sure a lamp or light switch is reachable from bed. It is important for a senior to have a way to turn on a light in the room.  Adding night lights along the full route to the bathroom, not just inside the bathroom, can help someone with health needs see better at night. Keep a phone and flashlight within reach in case the power goes out or help is needed.  

The person should be able to sit with their feet supported and stand without pulling on unstable furniture. Don’t add or remove a mattress topper without checking how the change affects transfers. 

Living Room and Kitchen Safety 

Make sure cords and uneven surfaces are removed or fixed before moving the person back after discharge, as they could pose a danger to a senior and cause a fall. Remove throw rugs or secure them so the edges can’t curl and create an uneven surface where someone could trip. Rearrange coffee tables, footstools, and decorative items to create a direct path to the chair, bathroom, and kitchen.  

Choose a firm chair with arms that is easier to stand from. Also, look at the kitchen and make sure everyday dishes and food are between shoulder and waist height. You shouldn’t need to climb on a chair to reach a shelf and get something. Sitting while preparing meals may conserve energy, and wipe up spills right away. 

Home Safety Modifications for Seniors Checklist 

Area	Check	Action
Entry	Can the person manage the step and door?	Add a rail, improve lighting, and keep the landing clear.
Stairs	Are both hands able to reach support?	Use secure rails on both sides and switches at both ends.
Bathroom	Is there a safe handhold at each transfer?	Install grab bars and nonslip surfaces.
Bedroom	Can the person reach light and help?	Place a lamp, phone, flashlight, and clear route nearby.
Living area	Are cords, rugs, or furniture in the path?	Remove or secure hazards and widen the walking route.
Kitchen	Are daily items easy to reach?	Move them to waist-level storage and avoid climbing.
Outside	Are steps, walks, and ramps dry and even?	Repair surfaces and use ice melt or sand in winter.

Use this home safety checklist for seniors as a starting point. Then walk the route at the same time of day your loved one will use it. Shadows, glare, and fatigue can show problems that are easy to miss at noon. 

When to Ask for a Home Safety Evaluation 

Ask for professional guidance if your loved one’s mobility, vision, judgment, endurance, or equipment needs have changed. An occupational therapist looks beyond the hazard itself. They consider how a person gets out of bed, turns around in a narrow bathroom, carries a plate, or crosses a threshold with a walker. 

Before discharge, ask the therapy team: 

• Which changes should we make before discharge? 

• What equipment should we have at home? 

• Can we practice transfers, such as getting in and out of the tub or car, before going home? 

• Who should be there during the first few days? 

• Which entrance and bathroom setup are safest right now? 

Help With Home Modifications in Lexington 

The City of Lexington Home Modification Program serves Fayette County residents age 62 and older whose household income is at or below 80% of area median income. Homeowners and renters may qualify. A licensed occupational therapist assesses the home, and a city-approved contractor completes approved changes at no cost for eligible participants. 

Possible projects include grab bars, handrails, nonslip flooring, improved lighting, ramps, and door or window adjustments. The program works with Bluegrass Care Navigators on Harrodsburg Road. There is no stated partnership with Pine Meadows Post Acute. To ask about the city program, call Bluegrass Care Navigators at (877) 439-0262 or the city at (859) 425-2255. 

The KATS Network ramps and home modifications resource guide lists additional statewide and local options. Programs and eligibility can change, so confirm details directly before applying. 

Getting Stronger Before You Go Home 

A safer house is one part of getting ready. Your loved one’s own strength and balance matter too. Strength, balance, walking practice, medication review, an annual eye exam, and appropriate exercise can all support safer movement. That’s why general home safety tips for seniors should be paired with advice that fits your loved one. If your loved one is in short-term rehab now, that time is a chance to work on those skills. 

At Pine Meadows Post Acute in southwest Lexington, licensed therapists provide physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapy in a fully equipped rehab unit. Therapy usually begins within 24 to 48 hours of admission, with a plan based on each person’s needs and goals. The restorative nursing program and other services can also support walking, range of motion, activities of daily living, and transitions. 

If your loved one is preparing to leave the hospital, our Lexington therapy team can work with them on strength, balance, and confidence before the trip home. When you’re ready to talk, call (859) 254-2402 or schedule a tour.