[BLOG POST] Essential Devices for Adapting the Home After Stroke

Strokes affect everybody differently, leaving victims to live with a variety of challenging physical and cognitive conditions. Many factors need to be considered when managing stroke recovery: damaged parts of the brain, severity of injuries, numbness or weakness of the body, loss of motor skills, extreme fatigue.

The problems seem overwhelming, but victims can move forward. With love, support, and hope, a stroke survivor has the potential to successfully regain independence. By implementing safety precautions at home, changes in lifestyle, and utilizing adaptive equipment, a victim can improve their rehabilitation and maintain self-sufficiency.

 

Living at Home After a Stroke

For someone who has suffered a minor stroke, returning home and recovering is simpler than it is for those affected by more severe stroke consequences. If you or a loved one faces significant injuries, achieving independence at home relies on several factors.

Taking Care of Yourself

Perhaps the most important factor of all, rehabilitation at home entails carrying out daily fundamental tasks. This includes feeding yourself, toileting, changing clothes regularly, strengthening movement and communication skills, and maintaining good hygiene.

Taking Medications on Time

Along with performing basic tasks, it’s important to follow medical advice and prescriptions. Making sure to take medications as prescribed and perform other medical regiments, will greatly decrease the chances of having another stroke, as well as reduce issues after suffering from one.

Having a Caregiver

Giving you full-time attention and support, a caregiver is a tremendous way to rebuild confidence and reclaim independence. A caregiver can assist with maintaining daily routines, taking medications, and being a source of moral support throughout the recovery period.

Home Adaptability

Safety always comes first, and if recovery is taking place in the home, then certain precautions must be taken to ensure proper rehabilitation. The first step is to take away anything that could be a potential hazard, such as loose carpets, electrical cords, or clutter. Open space is best for patients as they set up to move around the home. Clearing out unnecessary objects will allow open pathways to and from different parts of the house. If mobility is a greater concern, handrails and transfer benches can be installed to promote a greater and safer self-reliance.

It’s important to contact a healthcare team to determine whether moving home is the right fit for a survivor after a stroke. It is always a good idea to discuss the options of recovery and determining which kinds of adaptive equipment and home modifications will help most. Below is a general guide to assistive devices that will be helpful to the average stroke survivor.

Best Assistive Devices

Best Bathroom Assistive Devices

Grab Rails

Install rails to provide support when transferring in and out of the bath or shower. The type needed will depend on the patient’s limitations and safety concerns.To make your selection easier, here is a comprehensive guide to review:http://www.dlf.org.uk/factsheets/grab-rails#6.

 

Slip-Resistant Mats

Slip-resistant mats are mats that are fitted to the bottom of a shower or tub and have self-adhesive capabilities to lower the chances of slipping. They are perfect for someone with decreased balance, difficulty with standing or sitting and limited safety awareness. Make sure to refrain from using any kind of oils and other liquids that could prevent the mat from sticking.

more —> Essential Devices for Adapting the Home After Stroke | Saebo

[WEB SITE] Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy—What’s the difference?

If you’ve been considering a career as an occupational therapy assistant, you’ve likely become familiar with other healthcare careers related to patient rehabilitation. The field of physical therapy, in particular, is often mentioned right alongside occupational therapy. While there are certainly many similarities between the two, they differ in the specifics of how they help patients address a disability.  For a quick refresher on the two fields, or even a simple way of explaining the differences to family and friends, the info below may help.

The Basic Difference

The easiest way to describe the difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy is that a physical therapist (or physical therapy assistant) treats the patient’s actual impairment, while an occupational therapist (or occupational therapy assistant) treats that impairment in action. The PT tries to improve the impairment itself by increasing mobility, aligning bones and joints or lessening pain. The OT or OTA helps the patient complete necessary everyday tasks with the impairment.  Doing so may involve applying new tools and techniques.

Breaking It Down

A physical therapist is a medical professional licensed to assess and treat impairments and functional limitations. PTs are qualified to recommend appropriate medical and assistive devices for patients (e.g., shower chairs, braces, walkers, canes, wheelchairs) or specific exercises. Educating the patient about his/her condition is also a vital part of the PT’s role.

An occupational therapist may also recommend adaptive equipment, such as reachers, dressing aids, special dishes and utensils, positioning splints, etc.  Both the OT and OTA ensure that the patient is equipped to handle regular work and household activities like dressing, cooking, bathing or writing.

In Action

Consider a patient recovering from knee replacement surgery. His PT would likely assign various exercises to improve mobility with the new artificial knee and to ease post-surgery pain and stiffness. His OT might teach him how to use a wheelchair in the early stages of recovery, then help him practice going up and down stairs on the new knee. Or, in a nursing home, the physical therapist may help a patient stand from a wheelchair and maintain standing balance, while the occupational therapist assists her in performing hygiene tasks at the sink. Often, PTs and OTs/OTAs collaborate closely to help the patient achieve a full recovery.

Source: Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy—What’s the difference?