About 60% of people with Parkinson’s are reported to fall at least once a year, and a substantial share of them fall repeatedly. What matters most is that this mostly happens not outdoors but inside the familiar home. Making small changes room by room can cut the risk substantially.
The bathroom — the most dangerous room
The bathroom is where falls happen most. Fit professionally installed grab bars around the toilet, tub and shower, and if you need them, add a raised toilet seat or a safe bench you can sit on inside the tub. Keep the floor slip-resistant, and it is best to take small rugs, which are easy to trip on, out of the bathroom altogether.
Living room and hallways — clear the trip hazards first
Clearing clutter off the floor and removing unsecured rugs is the basis of fall prevention. Arrange furniture so it doesn’t block walking routes, and if you use a walker or a cane, make sure the routes are wide enough. Lighting the whole home brightly enough to reduce dark or shadowed corners matters too.
The bedroom — pay particular attention to night-time
Adjust the bed to a height where your feet touch the floor when you sit on it, and keep a light switch and a phone within reach beside the bed. Leaving a night light on along the route to the bathroom prevents falls from moving around in the dark. If turning over in bed is hard, the bed rails covered in Turning over and getting out of bed can help too.
Stairs — handrails on both sides, and mark the top and bottom
Ideally stairs have handrails on both sides, mounted about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7 cm) out from the wall so you can get a solid grip. Marking the point where the stairs start and end with bright tape gives you a visible reference point, which helps steady your steps in the way When your feet freeze mid-step describes. It is also worth checking whether the stair surface has a slip-resistant finish.
The kitchen — keep what you use often down low
Store the dishes and cooking tools you use most in low drawers you can reach easily rather than on high shelves. Swapping round knobs for bar-style handles, which are easier to grip, makes doors and drawers easier to open when fine finger movement is difficult. If you have to get something down from up high, don’t strain onto your toes — use a long-handled reacher or ask someone else.
Check the thresholds between rooms too
The door sills your feet catch on as you move from room to room cause falls more often than you would expect. Where possible, remove them or replace them with a low ramp.
Pets and cords are easy-to-miss trip hazards
A dog or cat suddenly cutting under your feet, or a food bowl or toy left in a walkway, is a frequently overlooked cause of falls. Keeping the spots where pets usually settle separate from walking routes helps. If electrical cords run across the floor, route them along the wall or tape them down so you don’t trip on them.
Walk through each room with someone else
The more time you spend in a home, the harder it is to spot the risky parts yourself. If someone close to you takes this room-by-room list and walks through the house, they often notice trip hazards and dark corners you had long since stopped seeing. There is no need to fix everything at once — starting with whatever looks most dangerous and working through one at a time is enough.
Be ready just in case
Keep a phone or an emergency call device close to you at all times so you can call for help right away if you fall. If you don’t know where to start, you can ask your care team for a home safety assessment, in which an occupational therapist looks at your home directly and helps you set priorities.
This article is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. If falls are frequent or worrying, please talk with your care team.
