Rugs, mats and flooring

Sahelisaheli.ca · hello@saheli.ca

Why this matters

A rug causes a trip in two ways: it slides when a foot lands on it, or an edge lifts and catches a toe. Both are easy to find. Push the rug with your foot. If it moves, or a corner stands up, it needs attention.

Nobody has to give up a rug they love. Non-slip underlay and rug tape cost a few dollars and hold most rugs flat. The few that will not lie flat are safer rolled up, or hung on a wall.

Quick safety check

Ask yourself:

Does every rug stay put when you push it with your foot?
Do all the corners and edges lie flat?
Is there a non-slip mat inside the bath or shower, and one outside it?
Is the floor level where one room meets the next?
Are the floors free of polish, wax and wet patches?

Room by room

Entryway
Use one heavy mat with a rubber back that lies flat. Dry wet floors straight after rain or snow.
Living room
Lay non-slip underlay beneath every rug and tape down the corners. Take up any rug that still curls.
Bedroom
Take up small rugs beside the bed. It is the first step of the day, and the one taken half awake.
Bathroom
Swap towels on the floor for a bath mat with a rubber back. Hang it up to dry after use.
Stairs
Look for loose, worn or frayed carpet on every step. Have it fixed, and keep rugs off the landings.

What you can do today

1
Push every rug
Go room to room and push each rug and mat with your foot. Note any that slide.
2
Hold the rugs down
Put non-slip underlay beneath each rug that moved, and rug tape under corners that lift.
3
Take up the rest
Roll up any rug that still slides or curls, and store it away from where you walk.
4
Check the joins
Walk each doorway and feel for a raised strip or a change in height. Mark it with bright tape until it is fixed.

Where a companion helps

Some of this is easier with someone alongside. A Saheli companion can help with:

Securing or taking up loose rugs
Buying non-slip underlay, rug tape or a bath mat
Vacuuming and mopping, and drying the floor after
Wiping up spills straight away
Hanging the bath mat up to dry
Companionship and regular visits

A companion goes with you; they never drive you and never provide the vehicle. You arrange the ride, or you travel together by transit, taxi or rideshare.

Find a companion

Companions are not an assessment team

Saheli companions give non-medical everyday support and companionship. They do not assess a home, install anything, or advise on health.

In an emergency

Call 911.

For anything medical

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist about dizziness, balance, eyesight, memory or medication. Some difficulties at home have a medical cause, and no change to the house will fix those.

Using this guide

If you are a family: Print it, walk the home with it, and do what you can today. Come back to it every six months.
If you are a companion: Share this with a family, or use it as a reminder of what to notice on a visit. It is not an assessment, and none of it is yours to carry out.

Next in this series

05Making the bathroom safer
06Making the bedroom safer (coming soon)
07Making the kitchen safer (coming soon)

A new guide every week, free to read and print.

Need a hand at home?

Saheli helps you find a companion nearby for the everyday things, matched on language and the traditions that already feel like home.

Find a companion

Reviewed 21 September 2026 by the Saheli team.

This guide gives general information only. It is not medical, legal, or professional advice, and it does not replace an assessment by a qualified professional. In an emergency, call 911.

Rugs, mats and flooring

Why this matters

Quick safety check

Room by room

Entryway

Living room

Bedroom

Bathroom

Stairs

What you can do today

Push every rug

Hold the rugs down

Take up the rest

Check the joins