Home safety checklist

Bathroom (highest risk area)

• Non-slip mat in the shower/bath and on the bathroom floor
• Grab rails beside the toilet and in the shower
• Shower stool or chair (so they can sit while washing)
• Raised toilet seat (if getting up and down is difficult)
• Good lighting — especially a night light for overnight trips
• Hot water temperature set below 55°C to prevent scalds

Bedroom

• Bed at the right height (knees at 90° when sitting on the edge)
• Bedside lamp reachable without getting up
• Clear path from bed to bathroom — no furniture or cords to trip on
• Night light or motion-sensor light for the hallway
• Phone or medical alarm within reach of the bed

Kitchen

• Frequently used items on lower shelves (no reaching or climbing)
• Kettle and appliances at bench height (not on high shelves)
• Non-slip mat in front of the sink
• Automatic stove cut-off or timer (if forgetfulness is a concern)
• Smoke alarm tested and working

Living areas

• Remove loose rugs or secure them with non-slip backing
• Tidy electrical cords — tape to walls or use cord covers
• Furniture arranged to create clear walking paths
• Chair at the right height with armrests (easier to stand up from)
• Good lighting in all rooms — especially stairs and hallways
• Phone within reach from the main sitting area

Entrances and outside

• Handrails on all steps and stairs
• Non-slip surface on outdoor steps (especially if they get wet)
• Good exterior lighting — motion-sensor lights are ideal
• Clear path from the car/gate to the front door
• Letterbox reachable without bending or stretching
• Key-safe or smart lock so family can access in an emergency

General

• Smoke alarms on every level, tested monthly
• Heating adequate — cold homes increase fall risk and illness
• Phone programmed with emergency contacts (large font if needed)
• Medical alarm or SOS button worn or within reach
• List of medications visible for emergency services

Cold and damp homes — bigger killer than falls in NZ winter

New Zealand's housing stock is among the coldest in the developed world. Cold homes drive respiratory illness, falls (cold muscles slip), cognitive decline, and depression. For an elderly parent, fixing a cold house is often higher-impact than any safety modification.

• Warmer Kiwi Homes — heavily subsidised heat pump and ceiling/underfloor insulation for owner-occupiers who hold a Community Services Card or live in a low-income area. Often 80–90% of the cost covered, sometimes free. Apply via EECA.
• Healthy Homes Standards — apply to rental properties; landlords must provide adequate heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture, and draught stopping. If your parent rents, the place must comply.
• Disability Allowance — can include an ongoing contribution to heating costs for medical reasons (asthma, COPD, arthritis). Ask Work and Income.
• Aim for 18°C in living areas (WHO minimum) and at least 16°C in bedrooms. Many older NZers live in homes well below this and don't realise the harm.

Fire safety

People over 65 are over-represented in fire fatalities. Cooking fires, heaters left on, and electric blanket faults are the common causes.

• Fire and Emergency NZ home fire safety visit — free. They'll come to the house, fit free 10-year smoke alarms in the right places, walk through escape plans, and check for hazards. Book via fireandemergency.nz or call 0800 693 473.
• Photoelectric long-life smoke alarms on every level, in hallways near bedrooms, and inside bedrooms where the door is closed at night. 10-year sealed-battery models avoid the dead-battery problem.
• Electric blankets — annual check (FENZ does free testing during winter campaigns), replace if more than 5 years old or if there are any visible faults
• Heaters — at least 1 metre clearance from anything flammable. Avoid unflued LPG heaters indoors (also a carbon monoxide risk).
• Cooking — never leave the stove unattended; consider a stove auto-shutoff timer for forgetfulness
• Smoking — don't smoke in bed or in armchairs, ever. A frequent fatal-fire pattern.
• Escape plan — discussed and walked through, especially for someone with mobility issues

Medication safety

Medicines are useful and dangerous. Polypharmacy (5+ regular medications) is a major fall and confusion driver. Quick wins:

• Free pharmacist Medicines Use Review — for anyone on 5+ long-term medications. The pharmacist sits down (often at home) and reviews everything, identifies what's no longer needed, and feeds back to the GP. See health checks.
• Webster packs / blister packs — pre-packed daily/weekly medication trays that reduce missed-dose and double-dose errors. Ask the pharmacy.
• Medication list on the fridge — emergency services and visiting carers need to find it fast
• Annual GP medication review — particularly important after any hospital admission (medications often pile up across visits)
• Lock away unused medications if dementia is a factor

Carbon monoxide

• Unflued LPG heaters indoors, blocked flues on gas water heaters, charcoal cooking indoors — all CO risks
• CO is colourless, odourless, and presents as headaches, nausea, confusion — easily mistaken for the flu or "just being old"
• Cheap CO detectors ($30–$60) are worth it in any home with gas appliances or a wood burner

Emergency preparedness

NZ-specific: earthquake, flood, tsunami, severe weather. Older parents are at greater risk because they may not be able to evacuate quickly or carry a pack.

• 3 days of water (3 litres per person per day), non-perishable food, torch, radio, first-aid kit, medications for at least a week, cash
• Grab bag by the door — basics if they need to leave fast
• Personal evacuation plan for someone with mobility issues, including who is responsible for getting them out and where to go
• Register with Civil Defence for vulnerable-person notifications in your region
• getready.govt.nz — official NZ guidance and lists
• Most importantly: does your parent know what to do in their specific scenario? Practice it.