Creating a safe home
Contents
Stairs, hall and landing
Lighting
Always use the lights to illuminate these areas when walking.
Consider a high wattage daylight bulb to provide extra light so you can see easier.
Consider a lampshade which does not create shadows and allows the light to illuminate the area, or have no lampshade.
If you get up in the night, such as going to the toilet, leave the landing light on at night where possible.
Night lights are an option for some people but not everyone, due to their low vision and the low light that is emitted, as it makes it not always possible to see clearly. In these cases, leaving the light on as normal on the landing or hallway is the best option.
Where it is possible to use a night light, use a dusk to dawn type that switches on automatically.
For further information about lighting around your home, visit the Thomas Pocklington Trust website.
Steps and stairs
Remove any obstacles that can cause a trip hazard.
Where you have carpet on the stairs make sure it is firmly attached at every step. Loose carpets may cause slips and falls.
Repair loose or uneven steps on the stairs.
If you use a walking aid, keep one at the top and bottom of the stairs.
If you have trouble seeing the edge of the steps on the stairs, ask someone to secure brightly coloured non-slip tape on the edge of each step.
If you have stairs rails, make sure they are securely fitted and if possible, fitted to both sides of the stairs.
If you do not have a stair rail either side of the stairs, ask someone to fit a second stair rail.
Advice and equipment that may help
When going upstairs, if you have a painful leg, you should try placing your good leg first on the step and then the painful leg follows. When going downstairs, you should try placing the painful leg first and then the good leg follows.
When going upstairs and downstairs you should hold onto the banister rails on either side.
A grab rail or extra banister may make it easier for you to manage walking up the stairs.
A stairlift is a chair that you sit on to take you up the stairs.
Last updated 13 November 2023