12 Recommended Home Modifications for Stroke Survivors

After a stroke, survivors often develop physical disabilities or limitations. Caring Senior Service shares 12 simple home modification tips to help stroke survivors ease back into living at home with greater independence.

Once someone has survived a stroke, transitioning from a hospital or skilled nursing facility back to home is the next challenge. 

But too often, the home is not equipped for new disabilities or physical challenges. About one third of stroke survivors are permanently disabled after their stroke, leaving them unable to do many of the things they used to do without assistance.

Before a stroke survivor returns home, family caregivers must evaluate the home for modifications that can help them transition smoothly. 

Below are 12 tips for modifying each room in the house and helping your older adult ease into life at home after a stroke.

Tips on Modifying the Bathroom Following a Stroke

1. Install grab bars

The bathroom is one of the most dangerous places for many stroke survivors.

Water and slippery surfaces can be especially challenging for people with physical impairments, making them difficult for even the most sure-footed of us.

Grab bars in the tub or shower provide stability and can significantly reduce your loved one’s risk of falling after a stroke.

Grab bars can also be added next to the toilet to make it easier to move from a standing to a sitting position.

2. Provide shower chairs, no-skid bath mats, and tub decals

In addition to grab bars for stability, tub chairs and non-slip tub decals can help stroke survivors keep their footing to stay safe while bathing.

3. Install walk-in tubs or showers

If you have the means to remodel the bath, a great option to assist your loved one is to convert your existing tub into a walk-in tub or shower.

These eliminate the need for a stroke survivor with physical limitations from having to climb into and out of a tub or shower, which provides additional safety and reduces fall risk.

4. Reorganize to accommodate mobility aids

If your older adult now uses a wheelchair, walker, or other mobility aid, you may need to reorganize shelves, mirrors, and dressing areas to accommodate these items.

You may even need to remove or change the bathroom door so that wheelchairs and walkers can easily fit through the opening.

VIDEO: Home Repair Assistance for Seniors

Tips on Modifying the Bedroom Following a Stroke

1. Modify the bed or change the type of bed

Because of mobility issues, a standard bed may be too low for stroke survivors to get into comfortably.

Consider raising the bed with simple bed risers, or renting or buying a hospital bed that can be adjusted to various positions.

2. Reorganize dressing areas

Just like in the bathroom, shelves, mirrors, and dressing areas in the bedroom might need to be modified to accommodate mobility devices or make it easier for your older adult to sit or stand. 

Using easy-glide drawers and lowering closet clothes bars can also help stroke survivors who use a wheelchair.

3. Add dressing aids

If necessary, provide dressing aids that address their physical limitations, such as shoe horns, zipper pullers, button hook aids, grabbing tools, and shoes that don’t require lacing. 

Stroke survivors often find they can’t move as easily as they once did, and these devices help them dress independently.

VIDEO: Home Modifications Following a Stroke

Tips on Modifying the Kitchen Following a Stroke

1. Assess major appliances for ease of access and safety concerns

Consider moving your older adult’s favorite food items to lower shelves in the cabinets and the refrigerator so they don’t have to reach too high or too low.

Sometimes, stroke survivors can also become desensitized to heat, so providing them access to a microwave or replacing the stove with a lowered electric cooktop can help prevent burns.

2. Add tables and seating

Standing for long periods of time to prepare a meal may no longer be feasible. 

Make cooking easier and more comfortable by adding additional chairs and/or small tables that sit lower than standard kitchen countertops.

3. Find kitchen gadgets designed for people with restrictions

Replacing standard kitchen tools with adaptive utensils, rocking knives, contained vegetable choppers and one-handed or lap cutting boards can also give more independence.

Tips on Modifying Entrances and Walkways Following a Stroke

1. Add ramps

Even one-story homes often have a few steps at the front door.

Even if your older adult isn’t in a wheelchair, converting stairs into a ramp may be needed. Ramps are often helpful to those who have difficulty climbing steps.

2. Clear walkways

Keeping walkways and paths between furniture clear of clutter and cords can help your older adult maneuver more easily throughout the home.

You may also consider rearranging the furniture so they can move around without running into obstacles or potentially tripping.

Financial Help for Home Modifications Following a Stroke in the Family

Facing the cost of essential home modifications after a stroke can feel like a second, overwhelming diagnosis. Between grab bars, ramps, and bathroom overhauls, the financial worry is real and can stall the critical work of creating a safe home.

But you are not in this alone. A wide range of financial assistance options exist, from government grants and non-profit programs to creative local resources and tax benefits. Check out your local Area Agency on Aging for help. They may be able to refer you to a non-profit group nearby that can help. Also, check this list for additional organizations that may provide home repair assistance for individuals in need.

Navigating this landscape is a crucial part of your caregiving role. Let us help you demystify the process and uncover potential sources of support so that you can focus less on the price tag and more on your loved one’s recovery and comfort.

Final Thoughts About Home Modifications Following Stroke

Remember, these home modifications are more than just physical changes—they are potent tools that rebuild confidence and restore independence. Each grab bar, ramp, or cleared pathway is a step toward empowering your loved one to navigate their home more safely and with greater self-reliance.

Start with the most critical adjustments and build from there. You are not just adapting a house; you are creating a safe, supportive haven that fosters recovery and honors their journey. Your thoughtful efforts in making these changes provide the priceless gift of dignity and the freedom to engage with daily life on their own terms.

Recommended for you:

• Dressing After Stroke: Tips to Regain Independence
• Stroke Therapy Exercises for Upper and Lower Body
• 7 Sources of Home Repair Assistance for Seniors

 

Guest contributor: Caring Senior Service Founder & CEO Jeff Salter began his career in senior care in 1991, working for a home health care agency in Odessa, Texas. Four months later, he started his own senior care service to provide seniors with the non-medical care they need to stay at home. In 2003, Caring Senior Service began offering franchises and today has nearly 50 locations across the United States.

 

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