1 Holidays: Home Safety Checklist When Senior Parents Come to Visit

The holidays are a time for family, celebration, and togetherness—but they can also introduce unexpected safety risks when aging parents come to visit or stay in your home. From dimmed lights and festive decorations to pets, extension cords, throw rugs, and holiday cocktails, even familiar spaces can become hazardous. In this episode of Answers for Elders, host Suzanne Newman explores how to create a safer, more welcoming home environment so your family can focus on connection—not accidents—during the holiday season.Suzanne is joined by aging-in-place specialist Paul Kocharhook, President of Pathway Design + Construction, to discuss practical environmental safety protocols every homeowner should consider before welcoming senior loved ones. Together, they walk through the most common fall risks, including cluttered pathways, uneven flooring, poor lighting, and low furniture. Paul shares real-world examples from his own family gatherings and professional experience, highlighting how small oversights—like loose rugs, pet toys, or hard-to-use doorknobs—can lead to serious injuries.Whether your parent is visiting for a weekend or staying longer, this conversation offers a valuable safety checklist and gentle observation tips to help you identify mobility, vision, or dexterity challenges. You’ll learn how simple adjustments—such as improving lighting, clearing walkways, adding raised toilet seats, or borrowing supportive chairs—can dramatically reduce fall risk and improve comfort. If you’re an adult child homeowner preparing for holiday guests, this episode provides essential guidance to help your loved ones age safely, confidently, and with dignity in your home.Pathway Design + Construction is a residential remodeling company that serves the Greater Seattle Puget Sound region in the state of Washington. With a specialty towards aging in place, Pathway tries to help you continue to evolve and live in your home long into the future.💠Visit PathwayDC.com or call 206-937-4809 for more information. If you're in the Seattle area, mention Answers for Elders to get a free consultation. Paul will come out, check out your home, make sure that it is safe, and talk about different potential projects, whether for now or in the future.💠Pathway on YouTube💠National Homebuilders Association website✨ Connect with Answers for Elders💠Website💠Answers for Elders Podcasts on YouTube