Living room: aging-in-place checklist
The living room is where people spend the most waking hours, and its hazards are the quiet ones: a throw rug, a phone charger cord, a low coffee table, a sofa that is hard to get out of. Most fixes here cost nothing.
The checks
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There are no throw rugs, or the ones left are fixed flat with non-slip backing
NIA's advice is plain: don't use throw rugs or small area rugs. If a rug must stay, tape all edges so nothing curls.
High priority if missing. Usual fix: remove rugs or tape them down, $16–$30 (DIY). Source: National Institute on Aging , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
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Cords run along walls, never across walkways
Lamp, phone-charger and TV cords across a path are on both the CDC and NIA lists. Re-route first; cover only what must cross.
Medium priority if missing. Usual fix: re-route or cover cords, $14–$37 (DIY). Source: National Institute on Aging , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
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Clear walking paths through the room, with low tables out of the way
Arrange furniture so there is a straight path through the room. Low coffee tables are easy to miss when looking ahead.
Medium priority if missing. Usual fix: rearrange furniture (no cost), Free (DIY). Source: National Institute on Aging .
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There is a firm chair with arms that is easy to get out of
Deep, low sofas make standing up a strain and a fall risk. NIA suggests chairs at the right height to get in and out of easily.
Medium priority if missing. Usual fix: swap to the firmest chair with arms (no cost), Free (DIY). Source: National Institute on Aging .
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A light can be switched on from the doorway, before walking into the room
Crossing a dark room to reach a lamp is how many evening falls start. A switched lamp or ceiling light by the door solves it.
Medium priority if missing. Usual fix: plug-in motion lights, $40–$53 (DIY). Bigger option: add a ceiling light on the door switch. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , National Institute on Aging .
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Floors are not slippery: no high-gloss wax, and spills are wiped up at once
Shiny floors are slippery in socks. NIA advises no-slip strips on tile and wood and not walking on newly washed floors.
Low priority if missing. Usual fix: non-slip strips at known slip spots, $8–$34 (DIY). Bigger option: replace with slip-resistant vinyl plank (200 sq ft). Source: National Institute on Aging .
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A phone can be reached from the floor, or is carried from room to room
After a fall, many people cannot get up. NIA suggests carrying a charged phone with family on speed dial, or using an emergency response device.
Medium priority if missing. Usual fix: keep a charged phone on the person (no cost), Free (DIY). Source: National Institute on Aging .
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Pet beds, bowls and toys are out of walkways
NIA lists pets as a trip risk: know where the dog or cat is before standing up, and keep their things off the paths.
Low priority if missing. Usual fix: move pet things off the paths (no cost), Free (DIY). Source: National Institute on Aging .
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important living room safety fix?
By severity and likelihood, the highest-risk check here is "There are no throw rugs, or the ones left are fixed flat with non-slip backing". The usual fix is to remove rugs or tape them down, at $16–$30 nationally.
How much does it cost to make the living room safer?
If every check here failed, the first-choice fixes would total $78–$154. 4 of the 8 fixes cost nothing and 8 cost $100 or less, so most homes start well below that.
Sources
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