Safety at home for all ages
Time passes whether we like it or not and our bodies adapt to these changes as best they can. So, why not adapt our homes to the changing circumstances? With small, gradual improvements over the years, you can address your changing needs and keep your home practical, as well as beautiful, at every stage of your life.
Planning ahead today, to address the safety risks of tomorrow
Often, the business of everyday life can leave little time to think about the future. But if you take a moment to pause, you can think ahead and anticipate your future needs, and you'll be able to see the benefits in the days to come.
For example, you’ll thank those MÖRKRÄDD lights with sensors and well-lit rooms if your eyesight should ever fade or if your mobility decreases. After all, why strain your eyes to read your favourite book, when you can simply use a brighter reading lamp?
There are many small, affordable changes that can help you to enjoy your home as a place of safety and comfort – for many years to come.
With age, the skin gets thinner, more sensitive to heat and it bruises more easily.
Home furnishing tips to cut down risks
You can prepare your home for all the years ahead – and still keep it comfy, good looking and practical.
A few tips to prevent falls at home
- Opt for low-pile mats and rugs to minimise the risk of tripping. However, always use a STOPP or STOPP FILT anti-slip underlay to prevent slips.
- Make sure that every room is well-lit, with easy to adjust curtains and lamps to reduce shadowy areas and avoid bumping into that typical corner that you never see.
- The FOTINGEN shower trays have an anti-slip surface, but if you still have a bath, use a DOPPA mat to avoid slips.
- Getting in and out of the bathtub, especially when our body doesn't perform as well as we'd like, can be a great risk, but it can be avoided with some kind of fixed grab bar.
- Put down a large, sturdy bath mat to reduce the risk of slipping when you get out of the bath or shower.
- Try to avoid running power cords across the floor. You can use our cable organisers to keep them as tidy as possible.
- If you have knee or hip pain, choose a bed, sofa or chair that is higher and therefore easier to get in and out of.
Tips to prevent burns at home
- Hot-drink cups should have good heat resistance and be easy to grip. For example, use our VÄRDERA mugs with slightly wider handles.
- Use the back rings of the stove to avoid knocking pots or pans. However, an induction hob will help you and your grandchildren to avoid unwanted burns.
- Wherever possible, fit the oven and the microwave at the most comfortable height for you. Your lower back will thank you.
Play is an important part of everyday life, whatever your age. And if you have grandchildren... There's no escape.
An ongoing commitment to product safety
How IKEA develops safe products
Safety is key in the development of IKEA products, to make sure that they can withstand the demands of everyday life at home. We put all our products through rigorous stress and functionality testing so that you can enjoy them with peace of mind. This includes after putting them on sale on all our channels.
The full list of IKEA product recalls
Sometimes, despite all our tests and certifications, we find out that one of our products already on sale could be a potential hazard. When that happens, we launch a process to recall it as fast as possible. Here you can check if you have an IKEA product that has been recalled and if so, what you can do.