06 Mar How Can A Parkinson’s Disease Patient Live A Better Life?
Parkinson’s disease affects all aspects of a person’s life; even everyday routines like brushing, dressing up, holding a cup of coffee, etc. But, this ailment should not keep you from feeling comfortable; at least in your own home. You should be able to navigate your home with confidence, and must be able to do your daily routine chores independently. For this, you need clever planning and the right equipment to make the effects of Parkinson’s disease less stressful and intrusive. And, you must also make sure that you are under treatment of a specialist like Dr. Shivam Mittal, who is an internationally recognized Parkinson’s disease specialist, having a well-known Botulinum Toxin Clinic in UAE.
Here is how you can set up your home once you know that you have Parkinson’s disease. These simple tips will help make your life easy and comfortable.
Setting up your living room and bedroom
- You need to have enough space to walk through comfortably. For this, you need to place furniture such that you have wide walkways, and plenty of space to move around.
- Install handrails along walls, hallways, and stairwells so that you have something to hold on to while walking along the walls, or climbing up and down the steps.
- Use chairs with straight backs, firm seats, and armrests so that it becomes easier for you to sit and stand up.
- Have a stationary pole or trapeze bar installed to help make it easier to get out of bed. Or, you could try sleeping in a reclining chair.
- Make the outlets for lamps and other appliances easily accessible; and secure any extension cords with tape and keep them out of the way to avoid trips and falls.
- Taking advantage of latest technologies, you can look for having appliances that work with sound.
Setting up your kitchen
- Put utensils, pots, pans, and other regularly used items in a cupboard that is easily accessible. And, put the rest at lower storage levels so that you can sit and remove what you have to. Don’t store your items high above where you will need to climb a stool to reach, as it could be risky.
- Have your counter workspace placed at a comfortable level so that you can work over it even when you are sitting.
- Use a food processor to cut your fruits and veggies, rather than using a knife.
- Opening tough lids could be a huge problem if you are suffering from Parkinson’s disease. An electric jar opener could help here.
Setting up your bathroom
Bathrooms are the places that see the most trips and falls, which is why you need to be extra careful while planning your bathroom.
- Install grab bars inside and outside your bathtub and shower areas to avoid slips and falls. Also, have non-skid mats in the bathtub for the same purpose.
- Cover maximum of your bathroom floor with a large rug with non-stick backing. Opt for wall-to-wall carpeting if possible.
- Use an elevated toilet seat or safety rails so that you can get up easily. Using towel racks of toilet roll holders for the same purpose can be risky as they could tend to break anytime!
- Have faucets with extended lever handles so that they are easier to turn.
These are very simple yet neglected elements in our daily lives. But, when fighting Parkinson’s disease, these simple things make a huge difference! So, get these things done in your home and lead a comfortable and independent life!
