Seasonal Home Safety

Your Thanksgiving Checklist for Mom and Dad’s House: Spot Risks Before a Fall

But when you’re home for Thanksgiving, you may notice something different. Dad steadies himself on furniture as he walks. Mom hesitates at the garage steps. The upstairs bathroom seems harder to reach than it used to.

These moments can be a good reason to start a conversation about making everyday life easier.

For families in Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, and throughout Central Indiana, a holiday visit offers an opportunity to notice potential hazards and help address them before someone gets hurt.

Start with a simple question: “Is there anything around the house that’s become harder to do?”

Then use this checklist to look at the spaces your parents use every day—with them.

1. Start at the Entrance They Actually Use

The front door may look welcoming, but Mom and Dad might come and go through the garage several times a day.

Pay attention to that everyday route. Where do they put groceries while opening the door? Is there a secure handrail beside the steps? Does the light reach the entire entry?

Your checklist:

• Are steps clear of shoes, packages, leaves, and other obstacles?
• Are any steps loose, uneven, or damaged?
• Are handrails secure and easy to reach?
• Is the entrance well lit after dark?
• Does a raised threshold make entering difficult?

Before Indiana’s winter weather arrives, agree on who will handle snow and ice removal.

2. Look for Bathroom Workarounds

Ask whether any part of the bathroom routine has become uncomfortable or difficult

Your checklist:

• Is stepping over the tub edge becoming difficult?
• Are they relying on a towel bar, door frame, or vanity for support?
• Is sitting down on or standing up from the toilet difficult?
• Are bath mats slipping or bunching?
• Are towels and toiletries easy to reach?

What can help: Properly installed grab bars, slip-resistant surfaces, appropriate shower seating, or a lower-threshold shower may make daily routines more manageable.

A towel bar is not a grab bar. Support fixtures need appropriate anchoring and placement based on the person, the wall structure, and how the bathroom is used.

Read our guide to home grab bars for more about installation and placement.

3. Walk the Route From the Bedroom to the Bathroom

A hallway that feels easy to navigate at noon may be a different experience in the middle of the night. With your parent, look at the route they take from bed to bathroom. Consider lighting, floor surfaces, and anything they must walk around.

Your checklist:

• Can they reach a light before getting out of bed?
• Is the route to the bathroom illuminated?
• Are cords, rugs, shoes, or furniture in the way?
• Is there enough space for any mobility equipment they use?
• Are floor transitions loose or uneven?

What can help: Add nightlights, place a bedside lamp within reach, and clear the walking path. Remove loose rugs or secure them so they cannot slide or curl.

4. Pay Attention to Stairs

Laundry stays downstairs. A bedroom goes unused. Trips to the basement become less frequent. Ask whether stairs are becoming difficult and what would make them easier to manage.

Your checklist:

• Are handrails secure on both sides?
• Are steps free of storage and clutter?
• Is carpeting firmly attached?
• Can lights be switched on at both ends of the staircase?
• Are your parents carrying items that prevent them from holding a rail?

What can help: Repair loose rails and flooring, improve lighting, and keep stairs clear. Consider whether frequently used items or activities could move to the main floor

5. Make Everyday Items Easier to Reach

Thanksgiving meal preparation can reveal challenges that also happen during an ordinary Tuesday breakfast. Does Mom climb on a chair to reach serving dishes? Does Dad struggle to retrieve a heavy pan from a low cabinet?

Your checklist:

• Are everyday dishes and groceries within comfortable reach?
• Are heavy items stored where they can be lifted easily?
• Is anyone using a chair as a step stool?
• Are kitchen walkways clear?
• Are spills cleaned up promptly?

What can help: With permission, move frequently used items to accessible shelves and keep heavier items out of overhead storage.

Before You Head Home, Choose What Happens Next

You don’t need to solve everything over Thanksgiving weekend. Agree on a few priorities and who will handle them.

If your parent mentions falls, dizziness, or new difficulty walking, encourage a conversation with their healthcare provider. Home improvements can address physical barriers, but changing health or care needs deserve attention too.

For a broader look at those decisions, read Home Modification vs. Assisted Living in Central Indiana.

Help Mom and Dad Feel More Confident at Home

The house where your family gathers should support the people who live there long after the holiday dishes are put away.

INDYpendent Living helps Central Indiana families make practical accessibility improvements, including grab bars, handrails, safer entrances, and accessible bathrooms.

Father-and-son owners David and Sam Cooke start by understanding what’s difficult and helping families explore improvements that fit their home and daily routines.

Notice something during your Thanksgiving visit? Call or text 463-777-1492 to schedule a free, low-pressure home safety evaluation.