Epilepsy: Making the Home Safe

Epilepsy home safety is a challenge for the whole family. A diagnosis of epilepsy will have a large impact on your daily life. As part of your care, you should take steps to make sure your home is safe. It's a good idea to walk through your house and take note of any potential danger areas.

Here are several suggestions to help make your house safer for someone who has epilepsy:

General steps

• Put down carpet with a heavy pile and under padding throughout the house.
• Place pads on any furniture that has sharp corners. When you buy furniture, choose pieces that have rounded corners.
• Close the fireplace screen when there is a fire burning. Make sure that a person who has uncontrolled seizures is not left alone in a room when there is a fire in the fireplace.
• If you use a space heater, choose one that doesn't tip over.
• Use electric and home appliance devices that have automatic shut-off switches.
• Use chairs that have arms, to keep from falling off.
• Put up safety gates to keep children from falling down stairs, or to keep your child in the house in case you have a seizure.

The bathroom

• Make sure the bathroom doors open outward rather than inward, so that they can still be opened in case you fall.
• Check the bathtub drain to see that it is working properly.
• Keep the water in the tub at low levels.
• Install a shower or tub seat with a safety strap in the tub.
• Keep the water heater temperature low to prevent scalding.
• Keep all electrical appliances away from the sink or bathtub.

The kitchen

• Use a microwave oven rather than a stove to cook. If you do use the stove, use the back burners only.
• Use plastic utensils and containers.
• Use cups with lids (commuter or sippy cups) to prevent spills.
• Consider using prepared meals and precut meat so that you don't have to use a knife.
• Slide hot food containers along the counter or use a cart to move them from room to room, rather than pick them up.
• Wear rubber gloves when washing the dishes.

Reviewed by The Cleveland Clinic Neuroscience Center.