Creating a Safer Home This Fall: A Hospice Safety Checklist

The Everlight Journal | September 2026

There is something comforting about fall — cooler evenings, familiar routines, warm blankets, and more time spent together at home. For families caring for a loved one on hospice, the change of season can also be a gentle reminder to look around the home and ask a simple question:

What can we do to make things a little safer, easier, and more comfortable?

As strength, balance, vision, or energy changes, things that once felt simple — walking to the bathroom, getting out of bed, stepping into the shower — can become more difficult.

At Everlight Hospice, we believe safety should never feel cold or restrictive. It should feel like support. Often, a few thoughtful changes can help someone remain comfortable and independent while giving family members greater peace of mind.

✓Make Everyday Pathways Easier

Take a look at the places your loved one uses most: the path from the bed to the bathroom, the favorite chair to the kitchen, or the hallway they walk through each day.

Loose rugs, cords, small furniture, or clutter can become unexpected obstacles when someone is weaker or unsteady.

If oxygen is being used, tubing can also become a tripping hazard. Your hospice team can help you think through ways to arrange the space so moving around feels safer and less stressful.

✓Bring a Little More Light Into the Home

As fall days become shorter, rooms and hallways may get darker earlier than we realize.

Adding a few nightlights or making sure lamps are easy to reach can make a big difference, especially for someone who gets up during the night. A softly lit hallway or bathroom may seem like a small thing, but those small things often matter most.

✓Make Nighttime Trips Easier

Getting up to use the bathroom can be especially challenging when someone is sleepy, weak, or moving more slowly than usual. Sometimes a bedside commode can make nighttime much easier and reduce the distance a person needs to walk.

Keeping a phone, call bell, walker, or other needed item within reach can also help someone feel more secure.

If you are not sure what equipment would be helpful, ask your hospice nurse or CNA. You do not have to figure it out alone.

✓Choose Comfortable, Secure Footwear

Warm socks and slippers are a favorite part of fall, but they can sometimes be slippery.

Look for footwear that fits securely and has a non-slip sole. For some patients, non-slip socks can also be helpful.

The goal is not to change everything — just to make the things your loved one already enjoys a little safer.

✓Ask for Help With Transfers

As illness progresses, getting in and out of bed, standing from a chair, or transferring to a wheelchair may take more effort.

Family members often want to help instinctively, but lifting or pulling the wrong way can be unsafe for both the patient and caregiver.

Your hospice team can demonstrate safe ways to assist and let you know when equipment may help.

Sometimes the right hospital bed, wheelchair, bedside commode, or other supportive equipment can make a difficult task feel much more manageable.

✓Make the Bathroom Feel Safer

Bathrooms can be especially challenging because of slippery surfaces and small spaces.

Simple changes may include:

• Keeping floors dry and clear

• Using non-slip surfaces

• Adding a shower chair or bench

• Using grab bars when appropriate

• Keeping towels and toiletries within easy reach

• Providing assistance with bathing when needed

For many hospice families, bathing is also an area where CNA support can bring tremendous relief.

✓Pay Attention to Dizziness or Increased Sleepiness

Changes in medications, illness, hydration, or blood pressure can sometimes make a person feel dizzy, weak, or more tired than usual.

If you notice a new change — especially dizziness when standing, increased sleepiness, or difficulty walking — let your hospice nurse know.

Small changes can sometimes give the care team important clues about what your loved one needs.

And as always, medications should not be stopped or changed without speaking with the hospice team first.

✓Give Them a Moment Before Standing

When someone has been sitting or lying down for a while, standing up quickly can sometimes cause lightheadedness. Encourage your loved one to sit at the edge of the bed or chair for a moment before standing.

A little extra time, a steady hand, and someone nearby can go a long way.

✓Tell Us About Falls — Even Near-Falls

If your loved one falls, almost falls, becomes suddenly weaker, or seems more confused than usual, please let the hospice team know. These changes can sometimes be part of the natural progression of illness, but they may also be connected to medications, pain, dehydration, infection, or another concern.

The sooner we know, the sooner we can help.

✓Safety and Independence Can Exist Together

Keeping someone safe does not mean taking away their independence.

Hospice care is deeply personal, and every family has different priorities.

Sometimes the answer is not, “Don’t get up.”

Sometimes it is moving a favorite chair closer to the window, placing a bedside commode nearby, adjusting the environment, teaching a safer way to transfer, or simply making sure someone is there to lend a hand.

The goal is to help each person continue doing what matters to them, in the safest and most comfortable way possible.

A New Season, With Support Beside You

Fall often reminds us to slow down, spend time together, and make home feel a little cozier.

For hospice families, it can also be a beautiful opportunity to make the home feel a little safer and more supportive. If you are noticing increased weakness, falls, difficulty walking, or changes in your loved one’s ability to move safely, please reach out to your hospice care team.

You are not expected to navigate these changes by yourself.

At Everlight Hospice, we are here to walk alongside you — offering guidance, comfort, and support through every season.

Ever Present. Ever Caring. Everlight.