Home Safety for Elderly in New Hampshire: PERS, Fall Prevention, and Medicaid Coverage

The Fall Statistics That Should Change Your Timeline

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults 65 and older in the United States, and New Hampshire's aging population makes this a particularly acute concern. One in four adults over 65 falls each year, and a significant portion of those falls happen inside the home — in bathrooms, on stairs, and during nighttime trips to the kitchen.

For families keeping an aging parent at home in New Hampshire, safety isn't something to address after an emergency. It's the infrastructure that prevents the emergency from happening.

Personal Emergency Response Systems Through Medicaid

A Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) is a wearable device — typically a pendant or wristband — that connects to a 24/7 monitoring center at the press of a button. When your parent falls and can't reach a phone, a PERS device is often the difference between lying on the floor for hours and getting help within minutes.

If your parent is enrolled in the Choices for Independence (CFI) Medicaid waiver, PERS is a covered benefit. The waiver pays for the device, installation, and monthly monitoring fees. Your parent's Care Coordinator includes the PERS in their authorized Plan of Care, and a provider delivers and sets up the equipment.

For parents who aren't on the CFI waiver, private PERS systems run $25 to $50 per month. Some local Area Agencies on Aging offer PERS devices at reduced cost through Older Americans Act funding — contact your local ServiceLink office (1-866-634-9412) to ask about availability in your county.

Room-by-Room Safety Assessment

Walk through your parent's home with a critical eye for hazards they've learned to navigate unconsciously — until the day they can't.

Bathroom. Install grab bars next to the toilet and inside the shower or tub. Replace glass shower doors with a curtain (glass shatters in a fall). Use a non-slip bath mat inside the tub and on the floor. Consider a shower chair or transfer bench if your parent has balance issues or fatigue while standing. A raised toilet seat reduces the strain of sitting and standing.

Stairs. Ensure handrails run the full length on both sides. Mark the top and bottom steps with contrasting colored tape — depth perception declines with age, and the first and last steps are where most falls happen. If your parent uses the stairs multiple times daily, evaluate whether a stairlift or main-floor bedroom conversion makes sense.

Kitchen. Move frequently used items to waist-height shelves. Eliminate the need for step stools. Make sure the stove has automatic shut-off or consider an induction cooktop that doesn't produce open flame. Keep a fire extinguisher within reach, not above the stove where a grease fire blocks access to it.

Hallways and bedrooms. Install motion-activated night lights along every path your parent walks after dark. Remove throw rugs or secure them with double-sided tape. Keep electrical cords against walls, never stretched across walking paths. Ensure the bed is at a height that allows easy sitting and standing.

Exterior. Check walkways for uneven pavement, cracked steps, or loose railings. Ensure adequate lighting at all entry points. In New Hampshire winters, an icy front step is a fracture waiting to happen — arrange for regular snow and ice removal.

Fall Prevention Programs

The New Hampshire Falls Risk Reduction Task Force coordinates fall prevention efforts across the state's healthcare and aging services networks. Through local ServiceLink offices and Area Agencies on Aging, older adults can access:

• Evidence-based fall prevention exercise programs (tai chi, balance training)
• Home safety assessments conducted by trained professionals
• Vision screenings and referrals
• Medication reviews that identify drugs contributing to dizziness or instability

These programs are generally free and don't require Medicaid enrollment. Contact ServiceLink at 1-866-634-9412 to find programs available in your parent's county.

When Safety Modifications Need Funding

If your parent needs structural changes — ramps, grab bars, bathroom renovations, stairlifts — several funding sources exist in New Hampshire. The CFI waiver covers Environmental Accessibility Adaptations for enrolled participants. Granite State Independent Living (GSIL) runs a Home Access Modifications Program for people with disabilities. The USDA Section 504 program provides grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62 and older in rural areas.

See our detailed breakdown of these programs in Home Modifications for Seniors in New Hampshire.

Technology Beyond PERS

PERS devices handle the emergency scenario, but several other technologies can extend your parent's independence between emergencies:

Automatic medication dispensers that alert your parent when it's time to take pills and lock between doses to prevent double-dosing.

Smart home sensors that detect unusual patterns — no movement by 10 AM, the refrigerator not opened all day, the front door opening at 3 AM — and send alerts to your phone.

Video doorbells that let your parent see who's at the door without walking to it, and let you check in remotely.

None of these replace regular human contact, but they fill the gaps between visits and give you data points about how your parent is actually functioning day to day.

The Aging in Place in New Hampshire guide includes a comprehensive home safety assessment worksheet and walks through how to get PERS and other safety supports covered through the CFI waiver.

See more New Hampshire guides →