We have chair rails on most of the walls in the house. They were there when we moved in and we left them because they're good for finding our way around during power failures. Likewise, baseboards are helpful if you have to crawl out during a fire.

I can't overstate enough what a help handrails are, not only for lower body injuries but upper body injuries and general illness as well. Anybody who feels wobbly will appreciate them. I never realized how much we use stablize ourselves with getting up and down until I broke my shoulder last summer. Between the break and the nausea from the medication everything was difficult. Sitting down, laying down, walking, going up and down steps.... all a challange. I wasn't nearly as bad as my Grandfather who had Parkinsons but it was a real eye opener. One of my best buys was a heavy medical step stool with long handle, just like they have in hospitals and doctor's offices. It's heavy but VERY stable and tall enough to use when going from sitting to standing.

My DH broke a rib at work a week or so ago and he's having the same realizations, which are almost the opposite of Sue's "I've fallen and can't get up" scenario. He can't get down to put on socks or shoes. He's using the assistance device my Grandmother got when she had her hip replaced. (Basically a long claw, kind of like a garbage picker.)

Another habit we've gotten into is keeping the medical stuff we get because of our (on, my) various injuries. Keep the neck braces, shoulder splints, crutches, etc. You never know!