The Home Safety Scale is a brief, self-administered questionnaire developed to identify potential safety hazards in and around the homes of older adults. It contains 10 yes/no items, with scores ranging from zero to 10; higher scores indicate greater home safety. The scale assesses obstacles affecting movement, stable supports, lighting, footwear, toilet and bathing difficulties, stairs, reaching household items, outdoor tripping hazards and access to assistance after a fall.
It can be used by individuals, healthcare professionals, social service providers and researchers as an initial screening and awareness tool. It should supplement, rather than replace, a comprehensive functional or person-environment assessment.
Health status and risk factors Disability, Functional decline, Fall risk
Age group Older Adults
Assessor Older adults; healthcare professionals; social service providers; researchers
Sections / items 10 items
Self-administered Yes (optional)
Multi-component No
Indicators Home hazards
Authors Pitta, S., Galanis, P., Stefanopoulos, N., Zafiropoulou, M., & Igoumenidis, M.
Organizations University of Patras, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and NGO Co2gether, Greece.
Publication date 2024
Pitta, S., Galanis, P., Stefanopoulos, N., Zafiropoulou, M., & Igoumenidis, M. (2024). Development and validation of a scale to measure home safety. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 17(3), 1466-1475. https://internationaljournalofcaringsciences.org/docs/21.galanis.pdf