Did you know stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in Australia? The average age for stroke sufferers is 75, however one in four are under the age of 65. More than 445,000 people are living with the effects of stroke. These statistics may seem daunting, however there are many ways to get back on track following a stroke.

Getting back to normal life following a stroke can be a slow and frustrating experience. In hospital, the staff are there to help you get back on your feet as quickly as possible. The first three to four months are the most important for recovery as this is when stroke patients will see the most improvement. Coming home from hospital after a stroke can sometimes feel disheartening, as the daily activities you once did may become a challenge.

Ways to prepare your home after a stroke

It’s ideal to look at ways your home could be improved for your health and safety. It’s also important to take steps to reduce the risk of falling in your home while you recover. Ask a friend or family member to help you move furniture if needed and remove clutter. Having clear walkways to the bathroom, in the kitchen and living rooms will aid you to relax and recover as quickly as you can. Another way to reduce falls risks is to place our anti-slip mats in living areas, your bedroom and bathroom.

 Rubber Back mats for bedroom, kitchen & lounge areas   Absorbent, Anti Slip Mats for bathroom

Other steps you can take include:

• Invest in lights for your hallways & bathroom, and a touch lamp for your bedside
• Remove throws and rugs to reduce trip hazards
• Get a cordless phone and keep it close to you
• Use a ground-level bedroom if you have a multilevel home
• Turn down the water temperature slightly to help avoid burns

Many falls are experienced in the bathroom as this typically is a small room, with many trip hazards and wet surfaces. Your bathroom can be improved without extensive renovations.

 Source: https://www.fairview.org/patient-education/82591

Some of our top bathroom products for stroke patients include:

​

Aids to assist independence following a stroke

Gaining your independence back is a high priority for stroke patients. There are many devices and ways to help you do simple tasks on your own or with little assistance. Some of our popular items include:

• Button hook – use one hand to button shirts etc
• Sock puller – saves you from reaching to your feet to put on socks
• Pick up reacher – use this to pick up small items off the floor
• Bed stick – this slides under the mattress and is there to offer a support when getting in and out of bed
• Walking frame – if you are unsteady on your feet, a walking frame may be a good idea for indoors and also outside the home
• Kitchen trolley – a stable trolley that you can place items on to carry from one room to the other in the home. This prevents spillage of hot drinks, meals etc.

Help in the kitchen:

• Uccello – you no longer need to lift a heavy kettle, the Uccello pours with the touch of a finger and prevents spills & burns
• One touch can openers – One touch takes the hard work out of opening jars and bottles.
• Peeler – easily peels all your vegetables hands free!
• Big knives – easy grip knives reduce the effort required to prepare food and reduce the risk of cutting yourself
• Grip placemat – keeps you plate or other kitchen items secure and free from sliding on your smooth table top
• Cutlery – a spork can be used with just one hand with its cutting edge on one side.

Accessing financial assistance after a stroke

Following a stroke, you may suddenly require a lot of improvements to your home or equipment to help you stay mobile and independent. This can be costly. Many hospitals offer a few weeks hire of post-discharge equipment that they think you may need. Make sure you know when & where the equipment needs to be return to avoid extra hire charges.

We have a large range of hire equipment available at very reasonable prices. You can check out our hire pricelist HERE. Call us for availability or to arrange hire delivery.

It’s also important to know you may be eligible for a home care package and can apply online for an assessment. For more info, visit: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/help-at-home/home-care-packages

If you are under 65, you could apply for an NDIS package. For more info, visit: https://www.ndis.gov.au/applying-access-ndis

Sources & Further Reading:

• https://www.braininjuryaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/BRAININJURYAUSTRALIApositionpaperyoungstroke2016.pdf
• https://brainfoundation.org.au/disorders/stroke/
• https://strokefoundation.org.au