Lighting Entry to the Home
Have a specific need? Slect a category to the Right
Driveway |
Yes
No
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Garage |
Yes
No
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Walkways |
Yes
No
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At all doors |
Yes
No
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Near the trash area |
Yes
No
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Any other areas of the yard that are used after dark? |
Yes
No
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Driveway Entry to the Home
Is the driveway smooth and evenly paved? |
Yes
No
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Is the transition between the driveway and surrounding surfaces (such as the yard), smooth and even, free of ruts and other things (rocks) that could cause tripping? |
Yes
No
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Is the slope of the driveway low enough that it does not cause a problem? |
Yes
No
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Walkways to and around home Entry to the Home
Are walkways smooth and level (no cracks, gaps or other tripping hazards)? |
Yes
No
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Are steps along walkways clearly visible? |
Yes
No
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Do they have handrails? |
Yes
No
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Are transitions between different surfaces (a patio and sidewalk, concrete and asphalt, walkway and grass, etc.) even and level? |
Yes
No
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If there are steeply inclined walkways, do they have sturdy, easy-to-grasp handrails? |
Yes
No
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Are shrubs, bushes and grass trimmed back or removed so they do not infringe on or obstruct the walkway (potential tripping hazard)? |
Yes
No
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Steps to the doors Entry to the Home
Do all steps (even single steps) have sturdy, easy-to-grasp (cylindrical) rails on both sides? |
Yes
No
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Are the stairs and multiple steps of equal height? |
Yes
No
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Are the stair treads sturdy, level and in good condition? |
Yes
No
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Garage Entry to the Home
Are there adequate overhead lights in the garage? |
Yes
No
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Is there a clear pathway to walk through? |
Yes
No
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Do entry stairs or ramps to the house have railings? |
Yes
No
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Are ramps rising at a minimum slope of 12:1 (12 inches of ramp length for every one inch of height is standard. However, 16:1 is recommended.) |
Yes
No
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Do ramps have sturdy rails on both sides? |
Yes
No
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Are the rails cylindrical for easy grasping? |
Yes
No
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Ramps (if applicable) Entry to the Home
Do ramps have smooth transitions from ramp surface to ground surface? |
Yes
No
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Do ramps have non-skid surfaces or have non-skid strips been added? |
Yes
No
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Do ramp railings extend beyond the ramp to help people transition off the ramp? |
Yes
No
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Do ramps have sufficient width of at least 36 inches between handrails? |
Yes
No
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Entry porches/decks/landings Entry to the Home
Front | Rear | |
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Have all potential tripping hazards, such as clutter and overgrown bushes, been removed? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is the landing wide and deep enough to safely open the door? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there a clearly visible, easily reachable doorbell? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Do porches and decks have railings or barriers to prevent someone from stepping or falling off? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are the railings securely fastened? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Does the decking have secure, even floorboards with no protruding nails? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there a non-skid surface on the porch/deck/landing? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Do doormats have non-skid backing, with no upturned corners? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Exterior doors Entry to the Home
Front | Rear | |
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If necessary, are doorways wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is a lock or deadbolt present on interior of door? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are locks in good working order and easy to use? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are latches and door handles in good condition and easy to use? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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If someone has trouble turning a doorknob, are there lever handles? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Do the doors open and close easily without sticking? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Do doors on springs close slowly enough (so they don’t close on someone going through the door)? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is the threshold at the door less than one inch high? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are the doors easy to open? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Other outdoor area concerns Entry to the Home
Front | Rear | |
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If there is a patio or deck, is it level, smoothly surfaced and free of tripping hazards? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are garbage and recycling areas well lit? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Do these areas have safe, accessible stairs and railings? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Have working chimneys been professionally inspected and cleaned within the last year? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Entryways and vestibules Inside The Home
Front | Rear | |
---|---|---|
Have throw rugs (potential tripping hazards) been removed? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there a clear pathway (devoid of clutter) through the entry hall? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are all cords and wires out of the pathway? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are thresholds low enough (less than 1 inch) so someone does not trip over them? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there adequate lighting? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is the light switch at the entrance to the room? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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If necessary, is the entryway wide enough for a wheelchair/walker? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Hallways Inside The Home
#1 | #2 | #3 | |
---|---|---|---|
If people need support, are there handrails along the hall? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are halls free of clutter and other tripping obstacles? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are carpet runners tacked down or do they have anti-skid backing? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are thresholds less than one inch, so they are not tripping hazards? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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If necessary, are halls wide enough for a wheelchair/walker? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there adequate lighting? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there a light switch at both ends of the hall? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Doors/doorways Inside The Home
Do all doors open easily? |
Yes
No
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Are thresholds less than one inch? |
Yes
No
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Are latches and door handles in good condition and easy to use? |
Yes
No
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If someone has trouble turning a doorknob, are there lever handles? |
Yes
No
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Interior stairs Inside The Home
2nd floor | Basement | Other | |
---|---|---|---|
Do stairs have sturdy rails on both sides that are securely fastened? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Do rails continue onto the landings? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are the stair treads sturdy, not deteriorating or broken? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are edges of stair treads clearly visible (no dark, busy patterns)? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are stair pads in good repair (tacked down, in one piece)? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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(If bare wood) Are stair treads slip-resistant? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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(If carpeted) Is carpet securely attached, not worn/frayed? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are top and bottom steps highlighted? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are stairs free of clutter? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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If stairs have a low, overhanging beam that people could bump their heads on, has it been padded? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are stairs and landings well lit, with light switches at both top and bottom? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Living room (LR) and dining room (DR) Inside The Home
LR | DR | |
---|---|---|
Is the lighting adequate? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there a light switch at the entrance to the room? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there a clear, unobstructed path through the room (no clutter, cords, wires, baskets or other things to trip over)? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are thresholds minimal and carpet binders tacked down? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are carpets in good condition (not frayed or turned up, torn, or with worn spots that someone could trip over)? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are plastic runners/carpet protectors tacked down (not folded or turned up at edges)? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Do throw rugs have anti-skid backing and no upturned corners? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is tile/linoleum free of chips or tears, and not slippery? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are bare wood floors slip resistant? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there at least one comfortable chair people can get in and out of safely and easily? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is furniture stable? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Do tables have rounded edges that are clearly visible (no sharp edges, not made of glass)? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Do windows open easily? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are shades and blinds easy to open and securely attached? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are electrical cords run behind furniture and not across the floor or under the rug? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Family room (FR) and other room(s) Inside The Home
FR | Other | |
---|---|---|
Is the lighting adequate? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
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Is there a light switch at the entrance to the room? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
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Is there a clear, unobstructed path through the room (no clutter, cords, wires, baskets or other things to trip over)? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are thresholds minimal and carpet binders tacked down? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are carpets in good condition (not frayed or turned up, torn, or with worn spots that someone could trip over)? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are plastic runners/carpet protectors tacked down (not folded or turned up at edges)? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Do throw rugs have anti-skid backing and no upturned corners? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is tile/linoleum free of chips or tears, and not slippery? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are bare wood floors slip resistant? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there at least one comfortable chair people can get in and out of safely and easily? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is furniture stable? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Do tables have rounded edges that are clearly visible (no sharp edges, not made of glass)? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Do windows open easily? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are shades and blinds easy to open and securely attached? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are electrical cords run behind furniture and not across the floor or under the rug? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Bathrooms - General considerations Inside The Home
Bath #1 | Bath #2 | |
---|---|---|
Is there a light switch at the entry? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there adequate lighting overall? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
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… At the sink? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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… Over the tub/shower? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there a night-light? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is the door threshold less than one inch? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is the room free of clutter and tripping hazards? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is the flooring non-slip/non-skid (including throw rugs), even when wet? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are there grab bars in other areas of the room as needed? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is the room kept warm during bathing (heat lamp, towel warmers, etc.)? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Bathrooms - Sinks Inside The Home
Bath #1 | Bath #2 | |
---|---|---|
Are sink faucets easy to reach? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is it easy to determine where the hot and cold areas of the faucet are? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is it easy to mix the temperature? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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If necessary, have anti-scald devices been installed? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is the sink wheelchair accessible or can someone sit at the sink? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Are mirrors at an appropriate height? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Bathrooms - Tub/shower Inside The Home
Bath #1 | Bath #2 | |
---|---|---|
Are there sturdy grab bars in the tub and/or shower, if needed? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Is the shower curtain bottom out of the way, so it is not a tripping hazard? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
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Are toiletries in the tub easily reached from sitting and standing positions? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there a non-skid bathmat in the bathtub? |
Yes
No
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Yes
No
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Is there a hand-held shower head? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
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Are tub/shower faucets easy to use and read (hot & cold clearly marked)? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
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If needed, is there a tub or shower seat? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
If shower/tub doors are present, are they made of a non-shattering material? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Toilet | ||
Are there sturdy grab bars at the toilet (or toilet arms and a raised seat)? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
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Is toilet paper easily reachable from the toilet seat? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
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Is the toilet seat in good condition and securely fastened? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Bathrooms - Toilet Inside The Home
Bath #1 | Bath #2 | |
---|---|---|
Are there sturdy grab bars at the toilet (or toilet arms and a raised seat)? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Is toilet paper easily reachable from the toilet seat? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Is the toilet seat in good condition and securely fastened? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Kitchen Inside The Home
Are frequently used items visible and easily reached (front of pantry and refrigerator)? |
Yes
No
|
|
Are sink faucets easy to reach? |
Yes
No
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Is it easy to determine where the hot and cold areas of the faucet are? |
Yes
No
|
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Is it easy to mix the temperature? |
Yes
No
|
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If necessary, have anti-scald devices been installed or the hot water temperature lowered? |
Yes
No
|
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If necessary, have timers been installed on the oven and cooktop? |
Yes
No
|
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Are burners and control knobs clearly labeled and easy to use? |
Yes
No
|
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Are the controls on the front of the stove, not the back? |
Yes
No
|
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Is there a close resting place nearby for hot vessels coming out of the oven? |
Yes
No
|
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Is glass cookware being used so the person can see the food being cooked? |
Yes
No
|
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Is the microwave easy to read, reach and operate? |
Yes
No
|
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Are towels, curtains, potholders and other objects that might catch fire located away from the range? |
Yes
No
|
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Is there a step stool that is stable and in good repair? |
Yes
No
|
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Is kitchen ventilation system or range exhaust functioning properly? |
Yes
No
|
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Is there good lighting over work areas? |
Yes
No
|
Laundry Inside The Home
Is there a light switch at the entry? |
Yes
No
|
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Is there sufficient lighting? |
Yes
No
|
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Is the route to the laundry safe (including any/all stairs and railings)? |
Yes
No
|
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Are the appliances at the right height, so it is easy to get clothes in/out of the washer and dryer? |
Yes
No
|
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Are the control knobs easy to reach, read and operate? |
Yes
No
|
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Are laundry supplies easy and safe to reach? |
Yes
No
|
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Is there a non-slip floor surface? |
Yes
No
|
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Are tripping hazards off the floor (laundry basket or dirty clothes)? |
Yes
No
|
Bedroom(s) Inside The Home
Bed #1 | Bed #2 | |
---|---|---|
Is there a light at the entrance to the room? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Is a light reachable from the bed? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Can bureau drawers be reached (height of the drawer) and opened easily? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Is there a clear, unobstructed path through the room (clutter and furniture are out of the way)? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Are cords and wires off the floor? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Do throw and area rugs have non-slip backing and no upturned corners? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Are wood and linoleum floors non-skid? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Is carpet smooth (no folds or holes) and tacked down? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Are curtains and bed coverings off the floor, so they are not tripping hazards? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Is there support for getting in and out of bed, if needed? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Is there a place to sit and get dressed, if needed? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Are windows easy to open and close? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
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Are window blinds and shades working properly and easy to open? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Are blinds and shades properly secured? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Is there a telephone within reach of the bed? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Are any assistive walking devices (cane, walker, wheelchair) within reach of the bed? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Is there a flashlight or some other form of non-electric lighting within reach of the bed in case of a power outage? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Are electric blankets folded, covered by other objects or “tucked in” when in use? Is the power cord pinched or crushed by the bed, between a wall or the floor? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Closet(s) Inside The Home
Closet #1 | Closet #2 | |
---|---|---|
Are shelves and clothes poles easy to reach? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Have closet organizers been installed to maximize use of space? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Are closets organized so clothes are easy to find? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Are clutter and other tripping hazards off the floor? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Do closets have lights that are easy to find and reach? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Are closet doors easy to open? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
If closet has sliding doors, do they stay on track? |
Yes
No
|
Yes
No
|
Overall Home Safety Concerns Inside The Home
Can an older adult contact someone in an emergency (medi-alert, names and numbers by phone, picture telephone, etc.)? |
Yes
No
|
|
Are smoke detectors installed and working on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside bedrooms? |
Yes
No
|
|
Are carbon monoxide (CO) alarms installed and working on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside bedrooms? |
Yes
No
|
|
Is there a fire extinguisher in the house? |
Yes
No
|
|
Is there a safe place outside to hide a key to the house for emergency entry? |
Yes
No
|
|
Are emergency numbers posted on or near all telephones? |
Yes
No
|
|
Are telephones positioned low enough so they can be reached if a fall occurs? |
Yes
No
|
|
Is there a fire extinguisher in the kitchen? |
Yes
No
|
|
Are all portable space heaters and wood burning heating equipment at least three feet from walls, furniture, curtains, rugs, newspapers or other flammable materials? |
Yes
No
|
|
Are all medications in child-resistant containers clearly marked with the medication name and dose? |
Yes
No
|
|
Is the area where medications are kept well lit? |
Yes
No
|
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Is the water heater set to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit? |
Yes
No
|
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Are containers of flammable and combustible liquids stored outside of the house? |
Yes
No
|
|
Are portable generators not operating in the basement, garage, or anywhere near the house? |
Yes
No
|
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Is there an emergency exit plan? |
Yes
No
|
|
Are small appliances, such as hair dryers, toasters, etc. unplugged when not in use? |
Yes
No
|
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Are electrical outlets or switches in good working order, and not unusually warm or hot to the touch? |
Yes
No
|
|
Do all electrical outlets and switches have cover plates installed so no wiring is exposed? |
Yes
No
|
|
Are all Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) receptacles working properly? |
Yes
No
|
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