If you have been struggling with a long-term injury then you already know how hard it can be to navigate your way around the home. If you need to make reasonable adjustments to your home then there are many things you can do within your house. This includes additions to the existing house such as changing the layout to an open plan. This is a wonderful idea if you use a wheelchair to get around. Take a look below for some more ways you can modify your home when coping with a long-term injury.
Photo by R ARCHITECTURE
Handrails
If you need an extra hand to remain steady while wandering around your home then strategically placed handrails can accomplish this. If you aren’t able to install these yourself then you can contact your local contractor to come and assess your home. If you give them a rough idea of where you would like the extra support and they will gladly put it in place for you.
A banister rail can prevent falls that would otherwise happen if you are unsteady on your feet. Dealing with an injury and chronic pain can sometimes take your breath away while trying to get from A to B within your home. Handrails will help you massively with this problem.
Medical Alert
It may be that you are in a situation which requires you to have a medical alert. These can be lifesavers, quite literally, and they are really worth having if you are in this kind of situation. The good news is that the cost of a Life Assure medical alert is relatively low, and yet it’s the kind of thing that will give you great peace of mind just to have in the home. You will feel safer and more secure, and that will also have the effect of reducing your anxiety, which is a really important part of looking after yourself too.
Stair Lifts
If you live in a home with numerous stairs that you have to tackle each and every day then you can soon become tired of going up and down them. The banister can only do so much and it won’t help you if you have injured your back or legs. Not being able to climb those stairs could mean you have confined yourself to the downstairs of your property. This is not practical and makes for little to no quality of life. If there is no option of moving to a home on the ground floor, then consider this relatively simple home adjustment: adding a stair lift to your existing property. This will help you get from the top to the bottom and vice versa a lot easier.
A Better Bed
Living with a long-term injury and chronic pain can be miserable, you might always be on the lookout for things that can make your life a whole lot easier. Believe it or not, your injury and pain can be exacerbated by poor posture during the day and as we sleep.
Photo by Adam Winger
This could be your sofa or your bed, if this is the case then you might like to invest in new ones. If your injury means you can’t lower yourself with ease onto the sofa or bed, then a higher one might be just the thing you need. Better yet, you could apply for a medical-style bed that comes with height-adjustable buttons. Finally, pillows are meant to keep your spine in a neutral position, align your neck with the rest of your body and hence support good posture. Invest in new pillows and cushions that are designed to support your lower back and assist with pain relief.
Widening Doorways
Using a wheelchair or walking stick can sometimes mean getting through your existing doors is a struggle. Nobody should have issues getting around inside their own home, think about what will make your life easier. You might want to widen the door frames so you can get your wheelchair through. If you contact your local carpenter they will come with their tools and get this done for you.
Finally, remember that investing in your health and wellbeing can prevent injuries as well as help you manage pain after an injury, so that you can live comfortably in your own home.
Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.
