Staying at home safely

What “staying at home” usually requires

Even when someone is “independent,” staying at home safely usually depends on:

• Who is checking in regularly (in person or by phone).
• Who notices changes in walking, memory, or mood.
• Who manages appointments, medications, and transportation.
• How quickly help can arrive if something goes wrong.

The more of this is done quietly by one or two people, the more hidden the workload becomes — until something breaks.

Common blind spots

Things that often get missed until there’s a crisis:

• Nighttime safety (falls, wandering, confusion).
• Driving — how often, how far, and under what conditions.
• Unpaid family work: phone calls, rides, paperwork, emotional labor.
• What happens if one key helper gets sick, moves, or burns out.

Costs to watch for

Staying at home has its own mix of visible and hidden costs:

• Home modifications (grab bars, ramps, bathroom changes).
• In-home care hours, even just a few per week.
• Transportation (rides, gas, time off work).
• Lost income or reduced hours for family caregivers.

When you compare “stay home” with other options, include both the cash costs and the human workload.

Questions to ask when home is the plan

• “If nothing changes, can we sustain this for 6–12 months?”
• “Who is the backup if I (or another key helper) can’t be here?”
• “What would need to change for this plan to feel safer or more sustainable?”
• “At what point would we revisit the plan?”

You can pair this page with the Tools that map family roles and compare “stay vs. move” scenarios.