You want your loved one comfortable, cared for, and safe at home. Safety setup at home for comfort care starts with small, high-impact changes that reduce falls, simplify caregiving, and calm the environment. In the first two weeks, you can clear pathways, improve lighting, plan a safe bathroom, and arrange the bed and seating so care is easier. 

Your hospice team helps coordinate medications, supplies, and durable medical equipment that are typically covered when related to the terminal illness, such as a hospital bed, bedside commode, and oxygen if prescribed.

This guide gives you a clear two-week plan for safety setup for when starting hospice care at home. You will get simple daily steps, room-by-room checklists, and “Team Tips” that show when to involve your nurse, aide, or social worker. The plan helps you reduce falls, calm the environment, and make caregiving easier, while pointing out common equipment and supplies your hospice may provide.

How To Use This Two-Week Plan

This step-by-step guide gives you focused tasks for Week 1 and Week 2. Each section keeps a home safety setup during hospice care at the center, so you can move calmly and avoid late-night crises. Where you see “Team Tip,” involve your nurse, social worker, or aide.

Week 1: Stabilize The Space And Prevent Falls

• Clear Paths and Remove Trip Hazards. Falls are the fastest way a good week turns into a hospital visit. Start by creating a clear, well-lit pathway from the bed to the bathroom, kitchen, and exit. Pick up cords, shoes, and loose items. Either remove throw rugs or secure them with non-slip backing. Add night lights in hallways and near the bed. These changes align with national fall-prevention checklists for older adults.
  
  Tip: Ask your nurse or aide to do a quick “safety walk” with you and point out hazards using a room-by-room checklist. 
• Position The Bed For Care And Comfort. Choose a room that feels calm and is easy to access. Place the bed so there is space on at least one side for a caregiver and equipment. If a hospital bed is ordered, the hospice benefit typically covers delivery, setup, and maintenance when the bed is related to the terminal diagnosis. Talk with your team about the right mattress and rail options for comfort and safety. Confirm bed height during the first visit. Knees should bend comfortably when sitting on the edge to reduce fall risk during transfers.
• Light The Way. Good lighting prevents stumbles and confusion after dark. Install brighter bulbs, use plug-in night lights, and add a lamp within reach of the bed. Make sure switches are easy to reach at both ends of hallways and near stairs.
• Bathroom Safety Comes First. Most falls happen in bathrooms. Add non-slip mats, a raised toilet seat or bedside commode, and grab bars near the toilet and in the shower. Keep towels and toiletries within reach so no one has to reach or twist. These steps come straight from aging-in-place guidance. Ask about a bedside commode to reduce nighttime trips. This item is commonly covered when it relates to the illness. Your nurse can also show safe pivot techniques for transfers.
• Oxygen Safety If Prescribed. If oxygen is part of the plan, post “Oxygen in Use” signs, keep tanks and concentrators at least several feet from any flame or heat source, never smoke in the home, and avoid petroleum-based lotions near cannulas. Store tanks upright in a stand. These precautions are essential for home safety. Tell your utility company and local fire department that you have oxygen at home. Your nurse will review a fire-safety checklist with you. 
• Create a Calm, Dignified Environment. Noise and clutter increase agitation and fatigue. Keep a simple side table with tissues, water, medications, and the call bell or phone within easy reach. Consider blackout curtains for daytime rest and a small fan or white-noise machine for comfort.

Week 2: Fine-Tune Comfort, Routines, and Caregiver Flow

• Set Up a Daily Care Station. Stock a single basket or caddy with gloves, wipes, skincare, oral swabs, medication cups, and a pillbox. Label shelves or bins so anyone who helps can find items quickly. This setup supports consistent hygiene and skin protection.
  
  Tip: Review the medication list with your nurse. Many hospice-related medications and supplies are covered when tied to the terminal diagnosis, which reduces last-minute pharmacy runs.
• Optimize Seating and Transfer Spots. Choose a sturdy chair with arms and a firm seat near the bed for dressing and meals. Place it so the person can pivot with minimal steps. Clear a landing zone for walkers or wheelchairs. These small changes reduce strain and make care safer. 
• Make a Night Plan. Write a short plan for evenings: who answers the phone, how to use the on-call number, what to do if pain or breathlessness increases, and where emergency supplies are kept. Keep a flashlight and a spare phone charger by the bed.
  
  Tip: Program your hospice’s 24/7 phone number into everyone’s cell. Review red flags with your nurse so you know when to call for guidance rather than going to the ER.
  
• Bathroom and Bedroom Upgrades You May Add In Week 2.
  • Install grab bars if you did not do so in Week 1.
  • Add a shower chair or transfer bench.
  • Place a second commode in the room used during the day.
  • Add motion-activated night lights for bathroom trips.
    These upgrades are consistent with national safety checklists for older adults. 
• Plan For Safe Stairs Or Skip Them. If there are stairs, ensure bright lighting at the top and bottom, fixed handrails, and clutter-free steps. If stairs feel risky, use the main level for all care when possible. 

Room-By-Room Checklist You Can Print

• Throughout The Home
  • Clear pathways of cords, shoes, and clutter.
  • Remove or secure throw rugs with non-slip backing.
  • Add night lights to halls and bathrooms.
  • Keep commonly used items at waist level to avoid reaching or bending.
• Bedroom
  • Position bed for caregiver access.
  • Keep phone, call bell, and water within reach.
  • Store incontinence and skin-care supplies in a labeled bin.
  • Use a transfer belt only with training from your nurse.
• Bathroom
  • Install grab bars and non-slip mats.
  • Use a raised toilet seat or bedside commode.
  • Keep towels and toiletries within easy reach.
• Living Area
  • Choose a firm, high-arm chair for transfers.
  • Arrange furniture to create a straight path to the bathroom and exit.
  • Place a table for tissues, medications, and a bell.
• Kitchen
  • Move favorite cups and snacks to a lower shelf.
  • Keep a water pitcher by the bed to encourage small sips.
  • Avoid cooking with open flame if oxygen is in use.
• If Oxygen Is In The Home
  • Post “Oxygen in Use” signs.
  • No smoking or open flames.
  • Keep tanks upright and 6 feet or more from heat sources.
  • Avoid petroleum products on the face. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can we get a hospital bed right away for comfort care at home?
  If your clinician certifies the need and it relates to the terminal illness, a hospital bed is commonly provided through the hospice benefit. Your team arranges delivery and shows you how to use it safely. 
• What if we do not have grab bars yet?
  Use a shower chair and non-slip mats right away, then add grab bars as soon as possible. Your team can suggest placement that fits your bathroom.
• Do we need special training to help with transfers?
  Yes. Ask your nurse or aide to demonstrate and then observe you. Good technique protects both you and your loved one.

Speak With Our Hospice Team Today

If you need help with hospice care in Dallas County, call (469) 625-0705. Our team can set up a safer home comfort care environment in the first two weeks and support your whole family. You can also reach us online for guidance on your home safety setup for comfort care in Dallas County, Collin County, Denton County, Tarrant County, and Parker County.