Disability and home hazards and safety practices in US households

Individuals with disabilities have an elevated risk of residential injury. However, the prevalence of home hazards and safety practices among households where an individual with a disability resides is unknown.

This study examined patterns of home hazards and safety practices among 1003 households across the United States in 2002.

Households with at least 1 resident with a disability had a lower prevalence of household hazards than those without a resident with a disability, including living in a 2-story dwelling (34.6% vs 50.7%) and having stairs inside the home (48.1% vs 58.4%). They were more likely to implement fall prevention strategies, such as handrails or grab bars in the bathroom (40.4% vs 21.8%) and mats or nonskid strips in the tub or shower (71.7% vs 61.5%).

There is room for improvement in safety practices among households where an individual with a disability resides.