Room By Room Changes For A Stroke Recovery Patient And Caregiver

In the United States alone, strokes are the third leading cause of death

. Over 795,00 victims each year suffer a stroke, but for the lucky ones, stroke recovery can and does happen with the right medications, exercise, caretakers, and being as independent as possible. This means doing everything possible to allow the individual to remain in the home. How to do this is to make a few changes, such as building a ramp for easier wheelchair access, widening doorways, lowering mailboxes and light switches, having counter tops at chest level, and equipping the shower, tub and toilet with handrails. A raised toilet seat is also very handy, as well as a portable toilet.

If the stroke recovery individual has a bedroom upstairs, it is advisable to put in an elevator so that he or she may simply roll into the elevator and arrive upstairs without all the hassle of being lifted and transported by caretakers. Or, having to give up their bedroom to sleep downstairs. Caretakers will find their job much easier in a home that is handicap accessible. The bedroom should look colorful and bright with a walker nearby for those more ambulatory. The bed itself should be of the right height for easier entry and exiting. Some stroke victims find it difficult to hold urine while sleeping, so bed pads are a must. A television, radio, and dark blinds will greatly improve the life of a stroke victim.

In the kitchen, lowering the water temperature to 120 degrees will greatly reduce the chance of accidental burns. If the individual does not have a pacemaker, a microwave will give him the extra independence needed. Have step stools located near hard to reach cabinets, or bring all food items down to a lower shelf. Use knobs on drawers for easy pulling, and arrange items in drawers and cabinets for wheelchair height. If affordable, purchase a refrigerator with a bottom freezer. One of the handiest tools and one of the least experienced is the reacher/grabber. These prevent grasping and stretching as they do all the work.

IN the bathroom, a stroke recovery patient will be pleased to have walk in showers where they do not have to step over a tub ledge, mats that do not slip, and rails on the toilet and shower. Even little changes mean a lot, and with exercise, patience and the new medications, the individual will be back to normal in no time at all.

by: Cheow Yu Yuan

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