If you and your doctor are planning an amputation—or even considering it as a possibility—there could be a number of changes that you will need to make to adjust to your life. Even if you plan on wearing a prosthesis, there will be a healing period, which will require you to go without it for some time. Because of this, some additional home modification may be necessary. Floyd Brace Orthotics and Prosthetics is here to help with the top three things you’ll need to do in order to make your home accessible for a recent amputee:
Make the entrances and exits more accessible.
Stairs can be a challenge for lower-limb amputees. Threshold or modular ramps can make it much easier to move in and out of your home while using crutches or a wheelchair. If you have a staircase in your home, consider installing a stair lift, even if it’s temporary. For upper-limb amputees, replacing your doorknobs with levers and installing motion-sensor lights can make life a little easier.
Install Bath Safety Products.
A shower chair or bench is very helpful to the lower-limb amputee both before and after you’ve received your prosthesis, as it allows you to bathe while sitting down. You should also install a safety grab bar, to help stabilize yourself as you get in and out of the shower. Both of these products are usually found at your local home medical equipment supplier.
Move things in your kitchen.
If you’re using a wheelchair, you may need to rearrange items in your kitchen so they are accessible from a sitting position. This means organizing your cupboards so a majority of things are located on the lower shelves. For upper-limb amputees, you may want to buy a number of appliances that can help you in food preparation, such as an electric can opener and a food processor. There are also a number of other kitchen tools to help the one-handed chef. Things like a spike board, belli-clamp, a buttering board and a saucepan handle stabilizer are great staple for upper-limb amputees.
For any other suggestions on how to make your home more accessible, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’re here for you in every part of your prosthesis journey.
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