Tips for Getting a Senior’s Home Ready for Post-Stroke Care

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Getting a Senior’s Home Ready for Post-Stroke Care in Tucson, AZ

Before your elderly loved one can come home from the hospital following a stroke, a few changes may need to be made to the home. Here are a few suggestions for making life easier for your loved one during recovery. 

Make Adjustments with Mobility in Mind 

If your loved one needs to use a wheelchair for mobility, a ramp may need to be built outside. The doors must be at least 36 inches wide. If the stroke has affected your loved one’s hand movements, lever doorknobs are usually easier to operate than circular doorknobs. If there are stairs inside the home, consider installing a chairlift or moving your loved one to the first floor.

If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of elder care. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping.

Modify the Bathroom 

At a minimum, you should install grab bars in the bathroom so your loved one can easily get in and out of the tub or shower. A raised commode seat can help your loved one get on and off the toilet easier. Additionally, consider the use of a three-in-one commode chair because getting to the bathroom in time may pose too great a challenge. If your loved one is using a wheelchair, consider removing the area under the sink so the chair can roll under it. However, be careful to eliminate the possibility of getting burned on hot water pipes. 

Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable home care service. Tucson, AZ, families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent and manage serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.

Make Accommodations in the Bedroom 

In the bedroom, as in all areas of the home, remove any items from the floor that aren’t firmly fastened down, such as throw rugs. If your loved one needs to use a wheelchair, consider lowering the bars in the closets so clothing can easily be reached. Installing D-loop handles on closet doors and dresser drawers makes them easier to open with a fist. Make sure your loved one can reach a light from the bed. 

Control Water Temperatures 

If the stroke has left your loved one with vision impairment, make sure to install highly contrasting water knobs so he or she can easily tell the hot water from the cold. Installing long handles on the knobs makes them easier to use with just a fist. Make sure the hot and cold labels can be easily seen. 

Recovering from a stroke, managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, and a variety of other health-related situations can make it difficult for a senior to continue living at home without someone there to help. Tucson, AZ, live-in care professionals are trained to help seniors who need 24/7 assistance. With the help of a live-in caregiver, your elderly loved one can maintain a higher quality of life while aging in place. To learn about our premier senior care plans or to hire a dedicated caregiver for your loved one, call Home Care Assistance at (520) 276-6555 today.

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