Evaluating home safety

Start by thinking about the behavior, abilities and health of the person with dementia. Can the person safely use stairs? Does he or she wander or get up at night? Has he or she fallen before?

Then check each room for potential hazards and make a note of changes you'd like to make. Keep in mind that changing the environment will likely be more effective than trying to change the person's behavior. Changes in abilities need to be reevaluated periodically as the disease advances.