Creating A Safe Environment for Stroke Survivors - Age In Place

May was Stroke Awareness month, and for June our focus is Making the Home Safe for Aging.  So what better way to celebrate these great themes than to mash them up into one helpful article.

According to the National Stroke Association, there are several tips and tricks to making a house more accessible for those who have experienced a stroke.

To avoid falls:

• Clear paths to the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom.
• Move electrical cords out of pathways.
• Wear non-skid shoes and avoid slick surfaces.
• Remove loose carpets and runners in hallways and stairwells or fasten them with non-skid tape to improve traction.
• Replace thick carpeting with lower pile carpeting to make wheelchair or walker movement easier.
• Install handrails for support in going up and down stairs and check to make sure they're securely fastened to the wall.
• Consider stair glides, stair lifts, and platform lifts if stairs are required.

Doing laundry will be less challenging with a few simple changes:

• Move laundry machines to a place where they are easily accessible.
• Stackable, front-loading machines may be easier to reach and take up less space.
• Use easy-to-reach, labeled detergents and laundry supplies.
• Have easy-to-read markings for wash settings.
• Use a nearby table or cart at the right height for sorting and folding.
• Use an ironing board that folds down from the wall.

Making the bedroom safe and comfortable:

• Install a light switch near the bed.
• Move/reorganize clothes and personal items to make them easier to access.
• Use a nightlight and clear a path for easy access to the toilet at night.
• Keep a commode chair near the bed.
• Consider placing disposable "blue pads" underneath the sheets.

Adjusting to challenges in the kitchen:

• If possible, use a stove with push-button controls at the front.
• Install automatic shut-off controls.
• Mount an over-the-stove mirror to help see stovetop contents if cooking while seated.
• Keep a clear space near the stove to place a hot pot or pan quickly.
• Have oven mitts on hand.
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
• Adjust the kitchen table so it is the right height for a wheelchair or for a chair with arms that supports posture.

Special utensils help people with physically-impaired arms and hands at the table:

• Flatware with built-up handles which are easier to grasp.
• Rocker knives for cutting food with one hand.
• Attachable rings which keep food from being pushed off the plate accidentally.

Helpful bathroom devices:

• Grab bars in shower or tub.
• Sturdy handrails.
• Raised toilet seat or toilet chair.
• Tub bench.
• Adjustable or handheld showerhead.
• Bathing supplies that are easy to reach and use.
• Easy-to-use water control knobs with easy-to-see settings or long-handled levers.
• Non-slip flooring strips installed inside and outside of the tub.
• Long-handled brush.
• Squeeze bottles and soap pumps.
• Washing mitt with pockets for soap.
• Soap-on-a-rope.
• Electric toothbrush.
• Flip-top toothpaste tube.
• Electric razor.
• One-piece faucet with lever handles or long extensions, allowing water to be turned on and off with a fist or arm movement.
• Cut-out or roll-under sink, which allows room for legs underneath the sink while seated.
• Suction pads to hold grooming tools or bottles in place on a counter, requiring just one hand to pick up or use.

Resource: National Stroke Association is the leading national non-profit organization devoting all of its efforts and resources to stroke. NSA provides the most up-to-date information on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and support for stroke survivors and their families. For more information on NSA contact 1-800-STROKES or visit www.stroke.org.