ESSENTIAL CHANGES TO THE HOME FOR PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S: PART ONE.
By Maria Lindbergh, MOT, ECHM, OTR/L
The first patient with Parkinson’s that I worked with as an occupational therapy student in a rehab center was one of the friendliest older gentlemen that I’ve ever encountered. We’ll call him Mr. Smith (not his real name!). Mr. Smith had a dry sense of humor. After every joke, the corners of his lips would slowly turn into a smile. He was always quick to greet you and ask for a steak and a glass of Guinness.
We were birds of a feather!
I had the honor and privilege of helping out with a home assessment before Mr. Smith returned from rehab. My clinical supervisor and I went through the bedroom, bathroom, living room, and dining area making small adjustments, like placing neon orange duct tape on the shower floor to mark the best place to put a shower chair.
While our goal was to make quick changes in order for Mr. Smith to return home, we also talked about recommended long-term changes to the home that could help him stay safe and independent while doing his daily activities. Parkinson’s is a progressive disease where people need more assistance with taking care of themselves over time. With that in mind, we recommended changes that needed a bit more planning and included things like putting in a bedrail and installing a ramp, or creating a zero-step entry.
Eventually, Mr. Smith went home and my clinical rotation finished its course. Not long after I left, I felt saddened to hear that Mr. Smith had gone back to rehab because he fell and became injured while going up the two steps to enter his home.
Ugh, it was like a knife to my heart! You wouldn’t think two steps could be so treacherous to get inside your home, but think again!
I’ve had so many similar experiences with people with Parkinson’s disease. I’ve learned over time that it’s best to make those changes for the long-term BEFORE it’s needed. When you make changes early on, you’ll save money on medical equipment, prevent falls and injury, and rely on less caregiver assistance.
If you or your loved one has Parkinson’s and want to live in the comfort of your home (not a nursing home), read on to learn the best changes to make to your bathroom in the first part of this Parkinson’s series. Subscribe to the free newsletter to read Part 2 for changes you can make to the remainder of the house!
“Maria, why are you giving me changes for the bathroom in the first place?”
Because the bathroom is the number one place at home for falls to happen, especially when you step out of the shower (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)! So what changes can we make to keep you on your feet in your most vulnerable state?
The best long-term solution in your bathroom would be to install a barrier-free shower, otherwise known as a curbless shower. These showers let you easily stroll or roll in and out without having to step over a tub ledge and balance on one leg. Barrier-free showers often allow room for a caregiver to help out with washing and drying, too.
I’ve had clients with Parkinson’s who walk or use a wheelchair to get in and out of the barrier-free shower. It’s not like a tub shower where you struggle stepping over the tub ledge while flailing your arms around to grab hold of something sturdy. No, no! Barrier-free showers help people clean up regardless of how they move around.
No sponge bathes at the sink for you, my friend!
Next up on the list, every shower on planet earth needs grab bars and a handheld showerhead in my humble opinion. Grab bars will give you the security you need when standing up and sitting down or holding onto something when you close your eyes to wash your face.
Water= slippery floors, which is not great when you start to have trouble walking (curse you, Parkinson’s!). Even if you have non-skid strips on the floor, grab bars really help you keep good balance while moving around. You and your family members will feel more confident sudsing up, baby!
Sidenote: Don’t mistake grab bars for suction cup bars. Please don’t put those plastic pieces of crap in the shower. If you want to learn more about why I shudder at the thought of suction-cup grab bars, click HERE.
Ponte Giulio USA Contractor Series Grab Bar, 12" L, WhitePonte Giulio USA, Corp. BUY ON AMAZON
Ponte Giulio 12" Straight Grab BAR New PRESTIGIO Warm White PONTE GIULIO BUY ON AMAZON
(FYI: I am an Amazon affiliate and love Ponte Giulio. If you purchase Amazon items with these links, I’ll earn an itty bitty commission which helps run my website! Thank you so much!)
Handheld showerheads are great for people at every age and every stage. It lets you control where the water goes whether you’re standing up or sitting down. I use my handheld showerhead in addition to my mounted shower head all the time! My one-year-old uses it. My 92-year-old grandma used it. I love not having water blasted into my face while sitting down and showering.
Caregivers can easily use handheld showerheads to help wash hair and those hard-to-reach places. I’m a huge fan of using it to help clean my shower too! I can aim the water exactly where I need it to go to clean those nooks and crannies.
Plus, if you’re feeling achy in a certain spot, put the handheld showerhead on and let it sit on the achy area for the warm water to do it’s magic. Less pain, more gain! When you feel better, you move better. #parkinsonsgoals
6 Functions Handheld Shower Head Set Hopopro High Pressure Shower Head High Flow Hand Held Showerhead Set with 59 Inch Hose Bracket Teflon Tape Rubber Washers Hopopro BUY ON AMAZON
Moen 26112SRN Engage Magnetix Six-Function 5.5-Inch Handheld Showerhead with Magnetic Docking System, Spot Resist Brushed Nickel Moen BUY ON AMAZON
Ponte Giulio Y87JOS04C1 ADA Ergonomic Sliding Hand Shower Holder44; Chrome Ponte Giulio BUY ON AMAZON
Another must-have change at home for people with Parkinson’s is a shower seat that’s freestanding or wall-mounted. Ideally, you’d put the shower chair near the water controls and shower supplies so everything is within reach when you’re seated. I recommend considering a wall-mounted seat that flips up against the wall when not in use. This will give you the option to shower while standing up or sitting down.
Ponte Giulio 4FAUHS01 Shell Folding Seat with ABS Top44; White Ponte Giulio BUY ON AMAZON
Drive Medical RTL12202KDR Bathroom Safety Shower Tub Bench Chair with Back, Grey Drive Medical BUY ON AMAZON
“But Maria, barrier-free showers and wall-mounted shower seats aren’t a possibility for me.”
Fear not, friend! For those of you with tub shower combinations, you could have your tub ledge cut out for a significantly low cost (around $200). Tub ledge cutouts give you a two to a three-inch threshold to get in and out of the shower. Then you could use a shower transfer bench or a carousel swivel bench to easily get in and out of the tub shower, which eliminates the need to balance on one leg while stepping in and out of the shower.
The carousel swivel bench is one of my favorites because the seat slides on rails side to side; this is perfect for people who have a hard time scooting over on their bottom. Caregivers usually like carousel swivel benches too because the seat stays put until you unlock it to swivel and slide.
Carousel Sliding Transfer Bench with Swivel Seat. Premium PADDED Bath and Shower Chair with Pivoting Arms. Space Saving Design for Tubs and Shower. Platinum Health BUY ON AMAZON
Drive Medical 12011KD-1 Plastic Tub Transfer Bench with Adjustable Backrest (Color May Vary) Drive Medical BUY ON AMAZON
Image of floating sink by Unsplash
Let’s swivel on over to the sink, shall we? People with Parkinson’s do better with hygiene tasks, like brushing their teeth or hair while sitting down. So a floating sink with space underneath for your lap is the way to go! You may want to hire an occupational therapist or home safety consultant to make sure the height of the floating sink is custom-installed for you.
We, occupational therapists, are good at anticipating your current and future needs!
When you’re sitting or standing at the sink, a tilted mirror can easily be adjusted to gaze at your gorgeous visage. You also want to consider putting cabinets or shelves within reach while you’re seated at the sink so you don’t have to lean waaaaaaaay over while reaching for your comb!
Lastly, my favorite spot in the bathroom is the toilet. This is the point where I strongly recommend hiring an occupational therapist because you really want their help with the toilet seat height. That’s because the best toilet height depends on the user.
I’m not recommending ADA toilets for everybody! We’re all different shapes and sizes! Some of us need a regular height toilet to feel completely comfortable, alright?
Toilets need either grab bars or a toilet safety frame to help you with getting on and off the toilet and getting in the best position to clean your bottom. The right equipment revolves around the bathroom setup and your abilities. You can’t slap a cookie-cutter solution on this and call it a day.
It’s also important to have all your toilet supplies easily within your reach while you’re seated on the porcelain throne. I’m talking about toilet paper, bidet control, sanitary napkins, etc. You can use a floating shelf, side table, drawer, recessed niche, whatever it takes to keep your hiney products close by. Learn more about beautiful bathroom storage on my show, Toilet Talk!
Medline Toilet Safety Rails, Safety Frame for Toilet with Easy Installation, Height Adjustable Legs, Bathroom Safety, Foam Armrests, Easy to Clean, Aluminum Frame, 250lb. Weight Capacity Medline Industries Healthcare BUY ON AMAZON
Moen DN7015 Home Care 23.25-Inch Toilet Safety Bar Rails, Glacier Moen BUY ON AMAZON
I hope this blog post gives you some ideas on changes you can make to your home! If have a friend or family member with Parkinson’s disease, please share this with them! Please be on the lookout for Part 2 next month where we’ll talk about other helpful changes to make to the home for people with Parkinson’s.
For more information on everything Parkinson’s, please head on over to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Have you already made some of these changes? Please tell us ALL about it down below! Your experience could help countless people!
Remember, you better do it before you need it!
(Psssssttt . . . Hey, did you know we have an awesome online course for people who have a hard time wiping after using the toilet? It’s an awkward topic that you can learn how to solve in the comfort and privacy of your own home! Learn more about the course HERE!)
“Hard Time Wiping? Let’s Talk A-booty It!”, Stay at Home Solutions logo against a blue background with a toilet. Click to go to the course description.
Tagged: home modification, home safety, Parkinson's disease, bathroom, occupational therapy, caregivers, age in place, aging in place
0 Likes Share
