214. Replay: Adapting our home to be wheelchair accessible - what worked and what didn't

How can you adapt your home and life to caregiving?

Ever since my husband Mark had a stroke over Christmas, life has been one big learning experience. I knew about common caregiving struggles secondhand from my clients, but living it has been more impactful than I could ever imagine.

My podcast producer, Ana Xavier, joins me to discuss life since Mark returned home this summer after spending months in rehab - and we answer my most common questions about our journey.

Mark has continued rehab and is working to become stronger over time, but our home needed many adjustments. An occupational therapist visited our home in March to make suggestions on ways to make our home accessible - long before he came home in July. Our bathroom layout was an issue, as the toilet was in its own separate room with a narrow door. As a result, we had to update our other downstairs bathroom.

The second issue was getting Mark up and down: from the bed to his wheelchair, and from the wheelchair to the toilet. Thankfully grab bars have been our best friend, and Mark and I have our system for getting him out of our sleep number bed. A contractor also helped us reconfigure the sink to become wheelchair friendly, and we added a heating lamp to keep Mark warm while showering without a curtain or door. A great shower chair is a must, as is a detachable showerhead.

Wheelchair-proofing the rest of the house has also been a journey. I never realized how beat up our baseboards and walls would become. We’ve also had to move everything against the wall and remove rugs and any clutter so Mark can easily get around. Outside, we’ve also had to add a ramp to the front door. We don’t have any stairs, so a $99 ramp from Amazon has worked great.

Other adjustments were to find a dinner situation where the table would be just the right height, and making sure he has snacks and water within reach during the day. I also got a new van to accommodate Mark’s wheelchair, and we named her “Large Marge.”

The important thing to remember is that everyone’s situation is different. What works for one caregiver may not work for another. Maybe there are other solutions or even workarounds. Find what works best for you. Also, it’s okay to feel sad about your home changing when you make it accessible - I know I hated removing my favorite rug. However, it’s important that Mark is safe as he regains his strength. That’s the priority.

Topics discussed:

-Making your home accessible

-Bathroom renovations for wheelchairs

-Caregiving

-Occupational therapy

-Home wheelchair ramps

Takeaways from this episode:

-Beware of grab bars that attach to your wall via suction cups. If they become loose and detach, you can become seriously injured.

-An easy way to make your bathroom sink wheelchair friendly is by removing the cabinet doors.

-As you come up with new habits and routines, you’ll learn what works and what doesn’t – and it’s okay to adjust.

-The Texas Ramp Project helps build ramps for homebound individuals. Check if your area has a similar nonprofit, or check for volunteer opportunities at your local church for help with your home.