Home safety

Changes in sight or hearing can affect how safely you move around. Good lighting, regular eye tests and simple equipment can all help.

This page shares practical advice to support your vision and hearing, helping you reduce the risk of falls and feel more aware of your surroundings at home.

Improve Lighting in and Between Rooms

• Make sure every area of your home is well-lit, especially stairs, hallways and entrances.
• Use bright, energy-efficient bulbs. Fluorescent or LED bulbs are cost-effective and provide strong, even light.
• Try to keep lighting levels similar in each room to avoid sudden changes in brightness.
• Use lamps or wall lights in corners and darker areas.
• Reduce glare from windows or shiny floors by using blinds or light curtains.

Make Night-time Safer

• Plug-in night lights can help you safely get to the bathroom or hallway in the dark.
• A dusk-to-dawn night light automatically switches on when it gets dark — no need to remember it each night.
• Avoid walking in the dark — turn on a light before moving from one room to another.

Look After Your Eyesight

• Have your eyes tested at least once every two years — more often if advised by your optician.
• Your prescription can change over time, and it’s important that your glasses match your current needs.
• Be careful with bifocals and varifocals, especially on steps, stairs and uneven surfaces.
• If you can’t leave home, ask your optician about a home visit.

For more information, visit the Vision section in our advice library.

Support Your Hearing

• If you're struggling to hear clearly, book a hearing test or speak to your GP.
• Poor hearing can affect balance, increase confusion, and make it harder to notice hazards.
• If you use a hearing aid, make sure it's clean, working properly, and worn during the day.
• Don’t ignore signs like ringing, muffled sounds, or difficulty following conversations — help is available.

For more information, visit the RNID Hearing Tests and Support.

Calling for Assistance

If you're concerned about hearing an alarm, doorbell or phone, specialist equipment is available — such as flashing alarms or vibrating alerts. Personal alarms worn on your wrist or neck can also provide peace of mind.

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Find Support

Please find below useful links, relevant resources and contact information. All links open in a new window and may include links to websites, videos, and PDF files for downloading and printing. 

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Local Support 

Visit our Help and Contacts section
Find local help and support
Find help to stay active in your area
Find local home safety support

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Falls Prevention Team

South Tees Falls Team
If you require general falls prevention advice and support or don't know where to start, please contact the Falls Team at Low Grange Health Centre, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays, between the hours of 8.30am and 4.30pm.
Phone: 01642 944484
Email: ste-tr.fallsteam@nhs.net

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Social Services

If you are struggling to manage around your home, contact your GP surgery and ask to be referred for a rehabilitation assessment.
Redcar and Cleveland: 01642 065070
Middlesbrough: 01642 065070

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Sensory Support

Sensory Support (Middlesbrough)
The Sensory Support Service offers advice and support to Middlesbrough residents who are D/deaf or have hearing loss, are blind or partially sighted, or have dual sensory loss.
Phone: 01642 065070 
Email: adultaccessteam@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Sensory Support Redcar and Cleveland
If you have sight or hearing loss, we can provide information, advice and services to help you identify what you need to live as independently as possible. We can provide information and advice about support or equipment to help you retain independence if you have a sensory need, i.e. hearing impairment or loss, or visual impairment or loss.

Teesside & District Society for the Blind
It is our mission to help blind and partially sighted people stay independent and improve their quality of life.
Phone: 01642 247518
Email: manager@teessideblind.co.uk

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Home and Fire Safety Checks

Cleveland Fire Brigade Safety Check 
Our free Online Home Fire Safety Check is the quickest and easiest way to get personalised advice for your home. The tool provides personalised fire safety advice based on each household’s home, behaviours and lifestyle. 

Offering Safer Homes Visits to people who may be at greater risk from fire. These visits can include our trained staff visiting your home to provide safety advice, conduct smoke alarm checks, and fit free alarms if needed.

Hartlepool: 01429 851258
Middlesbrough: 01642 811650
Redcar and Cleveland: 01642 777651
Stockton-on-Tees: 01642 366180

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Support Services

Age UK Teesside
Age UK Teesside has a wide range of services to help over-50s in Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland make the most of their lives, finances, social lives, and health & wellbeing.
Phone: 01642 805500
Email: info@ageukteesside.org.uk

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Helpful Links 

Loss of vision - NHS
Navigating sight loss - RNIB
Eye health advice - Age UK
Eye health and sight loss advice - RNIB
Having an eye examination at home - RNIB
Free Online hearing test - RNID
Hearing loss guidance - Age UK
Smart technology for the home - RNIB 

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More on this website

Visit our Information and Advice section
Visit our Staying Active section
Visit our Home Safety section
Visit our Help and Contacts section 
Start your online Self-Assessment

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