Preventing Falls at Home as the Days Get Shorter

Health information notice. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always ask your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider. In an emergency, call 911.

Quick answer. To help prevent falls as the days get shorter, light every hallway and stair, clear and secure the floors, add grab bars and non-slip surfaces in the bathroom, wear non-skid shoes, and make sure any cane or walker is the right size. Then talk to your doctor about your balance, your vision and your medicines. If someone falls and is hurt, call 911.

Clocks go back on Sunday, November 1. After that, it gets dark early. More of the day is spent in dim light, and a dim hallway or a dark step is easy to miss. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than one in four older adults reported falling each year. The National Institute on Aging notes that many falls can be prevented. This checklist goes room by room.

Part of our guide: Mobility and Orthopedic Aids: How to Choose.

What should I check in hallways and stairs?

• Light them well. Use bright bulbs, a switch at both ends of a hall or stairway, and night lights on the way to the bathroom. The National Institute on Aging suggests night lights, bathroom grab bars and secured carpet.
• Clear the path. Remove cords, boxes and clutter from places you walk.
• Rugs. Remove loose rugs, or use ones with a non-slip backing and flat edges.
• Handrails. Stairs should have sturdy handrails on both sides.

How can I make the bathroom safer?

The bathroom has hard, wet surfaces, which raise the risk of slips.

• Grab bars near the toilet and in the shower give you something solid to hold. They must be fixed into the wall structure, so use a qualified installer, and do not rely on suction-cup bars for support. Examples from our catalog: the Carex Wall Grab Bar and the drive Bathtub Grab Bar.
• A shower chair lets you sit while you bathe. Check the weight capacity and that the legs have non-slip tips. Example: the drive Aluminum Shower Chair.
• A raised toilet seat can make standing easier. Example: the drive Premium Raised Toilet Seat.
• Non-slip mats inside the tub and a non-slip rug outside it.

Browse all Bathroom Aids.

What shoes should I wear indoors?

The National Institute on Aging advises non-skid, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes, and warns against walking on stairs or floors in socks or smooth-soled slippers.

Do I need a cane or walker, and how do I choose?

A cane, walker or rollator adds steadiness, but only when it fits. Mayo Clinic advises that the top of your cane should line up with the crease in your wrist when your arm hangs straight down at your side. The National Institute on Aging adds that if your doctor recommends one, make sure it is the right size for you, and that a physical or occupational therapist can help you choose and teach you to use it.

Examples from our catalog:

• Canes: the Carex Offset Quad Cane and the drive Aluminum Folding Cane. Keep spare replacement tips for walkers and canes on hand, and replace tips when they wear down.
• A rollator has wheels, brakes and a seat: the drive Duet Four-Wheel Rollator.

Browse Mobility Aids.

What should I talk to my healthcare provider about?

Fall risk is personal. The National Institute on Aging advises having your eyes and hearing tested, doing strength and balance exercises, and telling your doctor or pharmacist if a medicine makes you sleepy or dizzy. Stand up slowly, and ask to have your blood pressure checked lying and standing.

What should I do if someone falls?

Keep a phone within reach, and think ahead about how you would get help. If someone falls and is hurt or cannot get up, call 911.

A short list for this week

1. Test every light in the hallway and bathroom.
2. Take up loose rugs.
3. Check the rubber tips on canes and walkers.
4. Put a night light between the bedroom and bathroom.
5. Book a check-up if it has been a while.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my cane is the right height? The top of the cane should line up with the crease in your wrist when your arm hangs at your side, according to Mayo Clinic. A therapist can help you choose a cane and teach you to use it.

Can I install a grab bar myself? Grab bars must be anchored into the wall structure to hold your weight. We recommend a qualified installer.

What is the difference between a walker and a rollator? A walker is a frame you lift or slide. A rollator has wheels, hand brakes and often a seat. Which suits a person depends on their needs, so ask your provider or therapist.

Why take extra care in the fall and winter? Shorter days mean more time in dim light, and wet or icy surfaces are very slippery. Better lighting and non-skid footwear help.

Next steps

Shop Mobility Aids and Bathroom Aids, and see Build a Home First Aid Kit.

Sources

1. CDC, STEADI patient and caregiver resources: https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/patient-resources/index.html
2. National Institute on Aging, "Falls and Fractures in Older Adults: Causes and Prevention": https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/falls-and-falls-prevention/falls-and-fractures-older-adults-causes-and-prevention
3. National Institute on Aging, "Six Tips To Help Prevent Falls": https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/falls-and-falls-prevention/six-tips-help-prevent-falls
4. Mayo Clinic, "Tips for choosing and using canes": https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/canes/art-20548206

This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always ask your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider. In an emergency, call 911. Last reviewed October 2026.