Home Safety after a Stroke or Brain Injury

To be successful in our occupations at home it is important to be able to navigate through your home safely. Here are a few simple things you can do in your home to prevent falls:

• Pick up throw rugs or make sure they are safely affixed to the floor. Throw rugs are notorious for sliding under our feet or getting caught by our toe.
• Keep the areas you navigate through clear, have someone help you move furniture out of the way so that you have adequate room to walk and keep items such as newspapers or power cords off the floor.
• Keep commonly used items within easy reach to prevent having to bend down or reach up high. For example keep your most commonly used pot in an easy to reach place or even just out on the stove.

A place many of us have safety concerns is the bathroom. There are many options to help you make the bathroom a safer place:

• Consider installing a chair or bench in your tub or shower.
• Install and grab bars in the shower/ tub or next to the toilet.
• Make sure your rug outside of the tub or shower has a rubber backing to prevent slipping on the tile floor.

If you feel you need more help or guidance on assessing the safety of your home an occupational therapist can complete a home safety evaluation, make recommendations, and help you learn to use recommended equipment. Contact Moxie OT today to find out how we can help.