Hallway & Stairs | My Therapy Hub

Hallway and Stairs

Hallways and stairs are the pathways that connect everyday life at home. They allow someone to move between important spaces — from the bedroom to the bathroom, the kitchen to the living room, or inside the home to the outside world.

As we get older, changes in strength, balance, vision, mobility, or confidence can affect how easily we move around these areas.

A staircase that was once easy to manage, or a hallway that felt familiar, may become more challenging over time. Small changes to the environment can help someone move around with greater confidence while maintaining independence.

The goal is not to stop someone using stairs or limit their movement. It is to make sure the home supports the way they live.

What to consider

Moving Around

Hallways are often overlooked because they are not where activities happen. However, they are frequently used routes and need to support safe movement.

Things to consider:

Are walking routes clear?
Is there enough space to move safely?
Are furniture, shoes, bags, or other items narrowing the pathway?
Can someone use their walking aid comfortably?
Are there areas where the person feels unsure or holds onto walls or furniture?

What might help:

Keep main walkways clear
Remove unnecessary items from floors
Store shoes, bags, and belongings away from walking routes
Arrange furniture to allow comfortable movement
Ensure walking aids can be used safely through doorways and corridors
Avoid using furniture or unstable objects as support when walking

A clear pathway allows someone to move naturally through their home without needing to navigate obstacles.

Lets look at the difference

A cluttered hallway can make it difficult to move around safely, especially for someone with reduced balance or using a walking aid. Obstacles increase the risk of trips and falls and can make moving through the home feel less confident.

A clear, well-organised hallway provides enough space to walk safely, turn more easily, and use a walking aid if needed. Good organisation reduces trip hazards, supports better balance, and helps people move around their home with greater confidence and independence.

Lighting

Good lighting is one of the simplest ways to improve safety, especially when moving between rooms or during the night.

Things to consider:

Are hallways well lit?
Can the person see changes in floor levels?
Are there darker areas or shadows?
Can lights be switched on easily?
Is the route to the bathroom safe at night?

Reduced vision, tiredness, and low lighting can make it harder to judge distances and identify obstacles.

What might help:

Improve lighting in hallways and stairways
Add lights at the top and bottom of stairs
Consider motion sensor lighting for night-time movement
Ensure switches are easy to reach
Replace dim or faulty bulbs
Reduce glare and shadows where possible

Good lighting supports confidence and helps people move more naturally.

Lets look at the difference

Poor lighting can make it harder to see changes in floor level, doorways, and other everyday hazards. This can affect balance, reduce confidence, and increase the risk of trips and falls, particularly at night.

Brighter, even lighting makes it easier to see where you are walking and move safely through the hallway. Good lighting supports balance, improves confidence, and helps reduce the risk of trips and falls while moving around the home.

Using Stairs Safely

Stairs require several abilities at the same time — strength, balance, coordination, vision, and confidence.

Things to consider:

Does the person feel confident using the stairs?
Are they holding onto furniture, walls, or the banister?
Do they avoid using stairs because they are worried about falling?
Are steps easy to see?
Is the handrail secure and easy to use?
Are items being stored on the stairs?

A person who starts avoiding stairs may be adapting to a change in their abilities, but it may also indicate that they need support to remain independent.

What might help:

Ensure handrails are secure and available where needed
Use handrails rather than relying on furniture or walls
Keep stairs free from clutter
Improve lighting
Ensure step edges are easy to see
Avoid carrying large or heavy items on stairs
Consider whether items can be stored differently to reduce unnecessary trips

Lets look at the difference

A single handrail may provide enough support for some people, but it can be more difficult to maintain balance if strength, mobility, or confidence is reduced. This may make using the stairs feel less secure.

Handrails on both sides provide support no matter which hand is stronger or more comfortable to use. They can improve balance, increase confidence on the stairs, and help reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls while moving between floors.

Level Changes

Changes in floor height can become harder to notice, particularly with reduced vision or when tired.

Things to consider:

Are the edges of steps easy to see?
Are there changes in flooring between rooms?
Are thresholds or small steps creating difficulty?
Does the person misjudge where a step begins or ends?

What might help:

Improve contrast between steps and surrounding surfaces
Ensure flooring changes are clear and visible
Remove unnecessary mats or loose coverings
Consider professional advice before making changes to flooring or steps

Helping someone see changes in level can improve confidence and reduce uncertainty.

Lets look at the difference

A small change in floor level can easily be missed, particularly by someone with reduced balance, vision, or who uses a walking aid. This can increase the risk of catching a foot or stumbling.

A low-profile threshold transition creates a smoother change between floor surfaces, making it easier to step over or use a walking aid. This helps improve confidence and reduces the risk of trips and falls when moving between rooms.

Doorways

Moving through doorways often requires turning, changing direction, and sometimes managing doors while walking.

Things to consider:

Is there enough space to move through doorways?
Can the person safely open and close doors?
Are thresholds difficult to step over?
Can a walking aid be used easily through the doorway?

What might help:

Keep doorway areas clear
Consider door arrangements that allow easier movement
Reduce unnecessary obstacles near entrances
Review whether the person’s mobility aid is suitable for the home layout

Lets look at the difference

A coat hanging on the back of a door can stop it from opening fully, making the doorway narrower. This can make it more difficult to move through safely, particularly when using a walking aid or carrying items.

Removing the coat allows the door to open fully, creating a wider, clearer access route. This makes it easier to move between rooms, improves manoeuvrability, and helps reduce the risk of bumps, trips, and loss of balance.

Flooring and Trip Hazards

Flooring choices and maintenance can affect confidence and safety.

Things to consider:

Are rugs moving or curling at edges?
Are floors uneven or damaged?
Are cables crossing walking routes?
Are different floor surfaces difficult to judge?

What might help:

Secure or remove loose rugs where appropriate
Keep cables away from walking areas
Repair damaged flooring
Keep floor surfaces clear and easy to see
Avoid creating unnecessary changes in flooring between rooms

A home should feel familiar and comfortable while still supporting safe movement.

Lets look at the difference

A rug with curled edges is easier to trip over, especially if someone has reduced eyesight. It also means they have to constantly watch the floor for hazards, making walking more tiring and less confident.

A flat rug creates a safer, smoother walkway and helps reduce the risk of trips and falls. With fewer hazards to think about, it is easier to move around confidently and focus on where they are going, not what they might trip over.

When Extra Support May Help

Consider seeking advice if someone:

Has fallen or nearly fallen on stairs or in hallways
Holds onto walls or furniture when walking
Avoids using parts of the home
Is struggling with stairs they previously managed
Uses a walking aid but finds the home layout difficult
Has had changes in mobility, balance, vision, or confidence

An Occupational Therapist can assess how the person moves through their home and recommend practical changes to support independence and safety.

OT Thought

Think about how your family member moves around the house every day. Simple changes, such as better lighting, clear walkways, and secure handrails, can make moving around safer and help them stay independent.

💡

Hallway and Stairs

What to consider

Moving Around

Things to consider:

What might help:

Lets look at the difference

Lighting

Things to consider:

What might help:

Lets look at the difference

Using Stairs Safely

Things to consider:

What might help:

Lets look at the difference

Level Changes

Things to consider:

What might help:

Lets look at the difference

Doorways

Things to consider:

What might help:

Lets look at the difference

Flooring and Trip Hazards

Things to consider:

What might help:

Lets look at the difference

When Extra Support May Help

OT Thought

Socials coming soon :)

Disclaimer

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Terms of Sale

Hallway and Stairs

What to consider

Moving Around

Things to consider:

What might help:

Lets look at the difference

When Extra Support May Help

​

OT Thought

Socials coming soon :)

Disclaimer

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Terms of Sale