Self-Administered Home Safety Assessment for Environmental Fall Hazards

The Self-Administered Home Safety Assessment for Environmental Fall Hazards is a self-assessment home safety assessment designed to reduce environmental fall hazards among older adults with risk of falls. The three major housing quality indicators the tool assesses are accessibility, lighting and pest control/management. It uses a two-point rating scale: “Not applicable” and “Yes.” It may take 90 minutes to two hours to complete.

This robust housing quality assessment tool comprises 52 domains: path and driveways, outdoor steps, outdoor ramps, outdoor railings, lawns and gardens, garage, doormat, entrance door opening, outdoor night lighting, indoor lighting, neatness, cleaning equipment, ironing, telephone, windows and coverings, reaching for high places, pets, floor and coverings, mats and throw rugs, switches and outlets, accessibility and space, mobility aid, indoor doorway, stair/elevator approach, indoor ramps, indoor steps/stairs, indoor handrails, furniture, lamps, seating, bed, closets, curtains/bed cover, bed lighting, bedside phone, bedside commode, footwear, toilet/bath location, toilet/bath floor/coverings, toilet, shower stall, bath/tub shower, grab bars, kitchen location, kitchen area/equipment, garbage, laundry, washer/dryer, clothesline, mail, medication management and safety call system.